Student-Athlete Spotlight: Betty Jones

10/5/2020 1:50:00 PM

Throughout the fall semester, daemenwildcats.com will feature a Student-Athlete Spotlight series to introduce you to current student-athletes from the college's 17 varsity athletic teams. Today's featured student-athlete is thrower Betty Jones of the women's track and field team.

QUICK BIO
Central N.Y. native Betty Jones (Camillus, N.Y.) has developed into one of the top throwers for the Daemen women's track and field team over the last three seasons. She's twice earned all-conference accolades, including last winter when was named Second Team All-ECC for the weight throw during the indoor track and field season.

An athletic training major, Jones has appeared in 28 meets during her collegiate career to date, with her senior season still ahead of her. She's posted career-bests of 9.30 meters in the shot put, 12.92 meters in the weight throw, 25.67 meters in the discus and 38.79 meters in the hammer throw.

QUESTION & ANSWER
Q: What is the earliest memory you have playing your sport?
A: It all started my junior year of high school. I was cut from the lacrosse team and I was welcomed with open arms to the track team. I began training in ways I hadn't before and the next thing I know, I'm standing in the circle at my first meet; a whole new environment and something I didn't know would carry me to where I am today.

Q: What person or persons has made the biggest impact on your life and how?
A: My mom, no doubt. She has always seen the potential in me and she continually pushed me to achieve the greatest. Without her, I wouldn't know where I would be today. Being two hours from home made it hard for my family to be at my track meets, but they always did what they could and it meant everything to me to see them on the sidelines cheering me on and giving me the encouragement to do better with every throw. After every competition you can bet that I am calling my parents to tell them how I did, needless to say hearing how proud they are means so much to me.

Q: At what moment did you know you were choosing to attend Daemen?
A: The moment I stepped onto campus for the first time, it felt like home. I knew this would be the place for me. Daemen has always provided the support and encouragement I need, everyone from the faculty to my coaches, I've always felt supported here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Q: What is the best advice you ever received and from who?
A: If you fall down seven times, get up eight. This has been the motto I've lived by since childhood. It's taught me to keep getting up and moving forward no matter how many times I get knocked down.

Q: What professional sports teams or athletes do you root for?
A: The Bills all the way! What kind of person goes to Buffalo for school and doesn't root for the Bills every Sunday? In addition to them, I support the USA Women's Ice Hockey Team, mainly because I am striving to be the athletic trainer for that team.

Q: What has been your favorite academic course at Daemen so far, and why?
A: So far, it's a tie between Gross Anatomy, Emergency Health Care, and CMP 315. As wild as some of these courses are and how tough they can be, they were the most interesting classes I've ever taken and have really pushed me to learn more and more.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Of course! My puppy, Duke, and my cats, Duncan, Midnight, and Amber. They're the sweetest pets anyone could have.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your sport? What is your least favorite thing about your sport? Why?
A: Favorite thing? There's too many, but if I had to pick one, it's the silly antics that happen during practice. There's nothing more fun than having a complete wipeout during a practice throw and just cracking up over it. My least favorite thing is easy - the 6 a.m. practice times really take a toll on you, but in the end I know it's worth it.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Practicing as a successful athletic trainer at a Division I college, with the anticipation of making it to the professional leagues soon.

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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