RIO DE JANEIRO — There was a chance, an outside one, that Tia Jones would be part of these Olympics. In California at USA Track and Field’s junior championships in June, Jones shattered a high school record in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in a junior world-record 12.84 seconds.
“If it would have been earlier in the season, I probably would have put her in the (Olympic) Trials,” said her father and coach, former pro football player Tyrone Jones. “I saw her run it, but I wanted to see her do it again to make sure it is legit.