Andrew Jones wins all-time great 110 hurdles race at UIL state meet
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The first stunning moment — and there were more to come — in the Class 6A 110-meter hurdles at the UIL State Track and Field Championships was how close it was.
Klein Collins' Andrew Jones has been so dominant throughout the greatest season a high school hurdler has ever produced that it was shocking to see Richardson Berkner's Tyler Key chase him across the finish line.
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Jones' undefeated season, that included a national record in the 300 hurdles and the fastest-ever all-conditions 110s, was in jeopardy until the final strides when Jones did manage to outlean Key.
The next shock came on the scoreboard. Jones' 13.01, which unfortunately came with a 2.6 meters-per-second tailwind that relegated the race to an all-conditions asterisk, tied himself for the second-fastest ever behind his 12.97 from earlier this year.
So what did that mean for Key? His 13.05 was the fourth-fastest all-conditions 110s ever, and the fastest by someone other than Jones. Katy's Cadyn Key, who came in with the nation's second fastest legal time this year, ran a 13.23 that would have been the fourth-fastest all-conditions race this year — except for it was sixth because there were two guys in front of him.
What is safe to say is that what unfolded Saturday night, wind or not, was the greatest-ever high school 110 hurdle race ever conducted, wind or not.
Was this the closest race Jones, who usually wins by meters, not inches, has been in?
"This year, yes," he said. "By 0.4, that's pretty frickin' close. When I crossed the line, 'I'm pretty sure I have it, I'm pretty sure, but I didn't want to celebrate too much if I didn't. ... This is probably the best year I've ever had, I'm undefeated and hope to keep it that way through my next race."
Jones was running the 300 hurdles later in the night.
But alas, there was the wind.
"That's always disappointment because there's a little asterisk next to the time. It would have been a national record if there was 0.6 less wind. It's kind of a bummer to see."
This is Jones' last race during the high school season, so this was his last chance to get the National Federation record of (wind-legal) 13.08. Though, if he betters that in a legal race in the summer circuit it will be recognized as a high school record by some outlets (such as Track & Field News).
At least Jones won.
"It is surreal," said Key, who was actually quite happy with his silver medal. "How you run No. 4 all-time, all-conditions and get second, it's crazy. That just means it was a great race. I love Andrew, I can't wait to race him again in the SEC."
When they meet again, Jones will be competing for Texas A&M and Key for Kentucky.
The ides of them doing this over and over for four years should have track fans everywhere excited.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Klein Collins' Andrew Jones barely wins epic 110 hurdles at UIL state