Hannah Jones

BIOGRAPHY

A talented junior hurdler, Hannah Jones would miss the 2014 World Juniors crashing out in the 100m hurdles final at the Australian team trials. But nine years later, she makes her Australian debut at the world championships in Budapest 2023.

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Rising star Hannah Jones has hurdled numerous challengers in her life, both on and off the track. 
“I started athletics at 9-years-old,” Jones recalled. “I loved the beach events at surf lifesaving and was recommended to start little athletics. I started as a sprinter, and at 15 my first sprint coach, Larry Spencer, convinced me to try the 200m hurdles where I won a national medal with the national heat and final being my second and third ever races.”

Mid-teens Jones was still combining athletics with netball (NSW U15 talent squad member) and touch football.
“At 16 mum made me choose only one sport to pursue at a high level to allow me to focus more on school, I choose to focus all my efforts on athletics and gave up the other two of these.”

Now 18, in 2014 she was set to represent Australia until a mishap. In the 100m hurdles at the Australian U20 Championships and World Junior team trials, she was in great form. In the 100m hurdles heats she defeated Liz Clay to win her heat in the fastest time amongst the finalists – 13.87. But alas, the final did not go to plan, crashing out, not finishing and missing the Australian team.
After that race, she would not compete for two years during a time where her father was battling cancer. 
“My biggest challenges would be personal for sure. Losing my father to cancer in 2016 prompted a return to focused training after having a small break from the sport.” Her next challenge was living interstate during a global pandemic. She had moved to the Gold Coast to train with Sally Pearson in late 2019. While in Queensland she continued her Uni NSW double degree studies in Chemical Engineering (Honors) and Commerce majoring in Finance. Then her mother became very ill. “COVID meant I couldn’t be with her to support her.” 

After she resumed racing in 2019, she reduced her times to 13.45/13.40w. But during the 2020/21 season, now under coach-Pearson, the times started to tumble. Before Christmas she ran 100m (11.86) and 200m (23.99) PBs along with a promising 100m hurdles time of 13.26 slightly wind-assisted.

In 2021 she ran five personal bests 13.11, 13.03, 13.01, 12.94 and 12.91 - moving to number four in Australian history and collecting silver in the national championships behind Liz Clay whom she had defeated seven years earlier in the heats at the national junior championships.
With a strong line-up of four hurdlers, Jones would eventually miss the Tokyo Olympics. In 2022 injury restricted her to a limited number of races and a best of 13.18.
But in 2023 she was back to her best, dipping under 13 seconds in e very race, and placing third at Nationals. 

Nine years after she missed the 2014 World Junior team, Hannah Jones makes her Australian team debut at the World Championships in Budapest 2023.

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Training under Olympic champion Sally Pearson, she transformed Jones.
“I’ve definitely been put through my paces with Sal. I didn’t realise how hard a fulltime athlete worked, physically and mentally, it has been exceptional that step up from the junior to senior, it has taken me a couple of years but now I understand that difference.”
Only a few years post-retirement there is another benefit of training under Sally Pearson.
“She has been able to show as well as tell.” 

“I have had so many personal battles that have taught me resilience and dedication to the things you love in life. All of these have taught me to fight harder for my goals.”

Most influential person in your career: My mum has been the biggest influence. She gave up so much to drive me over an hour each way to Sydney and back three times a week for training before I finished high school. She has been my biggest supporter of all things athletics and encouraged me to chase my dreams all the way to Queensland…. Highest moment of your sporting career: Her 2021 breakthrough season. The heat at nationals, running my first ever sub-13, was the highest moment to date...Sporting ambition: I have always dreamed of competing at the Olympics. However, my ambition changes with my abilities as my expectations and goals for myself grow. I never want to be a place filler at these majors but rather work to become a real contender...What do you like most about athletics: I love the highly technical nature of the sport and my event, and that there is always something to improve on. I love the individual nature of the sport meaning you are the only one accountable for how hard you work and your performance. 

@ August 2023 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au

World Athletics Profile https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/hannah-jones-14411163