“Coming into this meet and not even being on this list to winning the hurdles with a world leading time and snagging 2nd place over all from points is breathtaking!” In a field packed with world-class hurdlers and Olympic legends, Tia Jones broke through the noise with a performance that turned heads across the track world. And to do that while adversity looms large over you? Takes guts! So what if life threw her curveballs in the form of a brutal breakup, nagging injuries, and missing the Paris Olympics? One thing we can surely trust her with is flipping the script. And now? Even her fellow athletes can’t stop talking about it.

While talking with Colin Waitzman on the Track World News YouTube channel, Noah Williams admits, “The performance that really impressed me though was Tia Jones, bro,” he said, eyes wide with disbelief. It wasn’t just the victory that struck him—it was everything behind it. Jones had been surrounded by “all that drama,” as Williams put it, referencing the swirl of buzz, pressure, and whispers that followed her leading into GST.

After all, we all saw how March brought forth a full-blown legal battle between Tia Jones and Xavier Worthy as they found themselves at the center of the headlines for their breakup. Even last year, she chose to sit out for the Texas Relays to concentrate on preparing for the Olympic Trails in order to secure a spot for Paris. But as fate would it, she suffered an ACL Tear at the USATF Indoor Championships and had to eventually let go of the Paris Olympics aspirations. But now, it was about time to turn over a new leaf.

Entering the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet as the “KINGSTON CHALLENGER,” a designation that as per the event’s regulations is reserved for athletes ranked within the global top 20, those with significant international following, and with existing rivalries, the 24-year-old had quite the weight riding on her shoulders. To top that, she wasn’t even supposed to be here. She was then a late addition.

The way she handled herself on that track wasn’t just elite—it was fearless. And Williams could barely hide his admiration for that. “Tia Jones shocks the world in 100m, and we all know about it, you feel me? But for her to come out there and pop her like that in the 100 hurdles—I was impressed, bro,” he said, giving her credit not just for the win, but for rising above a seriously stacked field. When the gun went off in the 100m hurdles, any lingering doubts disappeared in a flash. Blazing through the finish in 12.63 seconds, she didn’t just take the win—she took over the leaderboard, clocking the world-leading time for 2025. And in doing so, she snatched the top spot right out of South Africa’s Marione Fourie’s hands.

He further added, “Real dogs in that field. Olympic champions in that field—plural. She went out there and got the dub—at least in the hurdle part.” Sure, the 100m dash “was a little spooky,” as he put it with a laugh, but in the 100m hurdles? She delivered! However, she finished sixth in the following day’s 100 m flat, while Danielle Williams took the first place. But the athlete still walked away as the second-overall scorer in the short hurdles group and bagged $50,000 in prize money.

For her to rise from the noise and still dominate—it’s no wonder she’s got the track world buzzing, and even her peers talking.

Tia Jones keeps her head high

Tia Jones isn’t just clocking fast times—she’s quietly building a legacy. From a junior phenom to a major name on the senior circuit, Jones has steadily turned heads with every performance. Her recent win at the Grand Slam Track in Kingston wasn’t just a medal moment; it was a signal that she was ready for the big leagues.

But what makes Tia Jones stand out isn’t just her speed—it’s her mindset. “I do this for God. I am running under the testimony of Jesus himself. So coming out here and just putting everything on the track, I just put my energy into the track. So that’s all I can do. Otherwise, I’ll fail.” That clarity—knowing who she’s running for and why—gives her a depth most athletes spend years trying to find.

With her faith front and center, she continues to push through adversity and distractions. “A lot of people don’t understand how hard it is to go through things that you go through outside of track and field and still step on the track and do what you gotta do,” Jones said. “But you know, I just put all my faith into God. I’m walking.”

Her next step? Keep showing, and keep shocking the track world. With the Olympics in sight and her confidence rising, don’t be surprised if Tia Jones soon becomes the face of American hurdles. The road ahead is long—but she’s already sprinting down it, full stride.