There are runners who are born to run,those for whom the sport
is as natural as breathing. Then, there are runners who are made,
who have to dedicate themselves to constant training to excel in
the sport.
There are runners who are born to run,those for whom the sport is as natural as breathing. Then, there are runners who are made, who have to dedicate themselves to constant training to excel in the sport.
Live Oak High sophomore Cobbie Jones is a little of both.
The outgoing 15-year-old, who is headed to the State Cross-Country Finals for the second time in two years after finishing third at the Central Coast Section Division I championships last weekend, enjoys the natural talents of a born runner but also supplements those gifts with plenty of dedication, according to Acorn cross-country coach Dean Raymond.
The state finals will be held Nov. 29 at Woodward Park in Fresno.
The fair-skinned Jones is built so much like a prototypical distance runner, at 5-foot-5 and 95 pounds, that she joked once that she is “part Ethiopian.”
“I was telling her about what great distance runners the Ethiopians and Kenyans are when she said that,” Raymond said. “She’s as blonde as blonde can be but she’s Ethiopian in her heart.”
And then there is the training, which stems from her love of running.
“If I were to sum her up in one word it would be dedication,” Raymond said. “Most teenagers have off days, where they’re just not up to training. But for her, those are few and far between. She’s just a unique athlete with a lot of talent, and she’s taken it and run with it.”
Raymond, who took over the cross-country program a three seasons ago and has been coaching Acorn track for a decade, said Jones is the best distance athlete, boy or girl, he’s seen at the school. He said a few Live Oak boys have qualified for the state meet during his tenure but none as a sophomore.
Jones said running gives her a special feeling that she wouldn’t give up for anything.
“I get a really great sensation from running — it’s hard to describe,” Jones said. “It’s a feeling of accomplishment, that I’m doing something I’m good at and that’s good for health.”
Jones said her affinity for running goes back to the training runs she used to go on with her father, San Jose police officer Byron Jones, in the Hecker Pass area. While her dad was trying to stay in shape for police work, Cobbie was training for her first love — soccer.
She began running competitively in seventh grade at Britton Middle School and was a standout almost immediately.
But the San Martin resident almost didn’t end up running for Live Oak High at all.
When she graduated from Britton, she moved to Los Gatos to live with her mother, Diane Urban — also a San Jose police officer, and attended Los Gatos High her freshman year. And, it was there that Jones began her run of success.
With the Los Gatos cross-country team, Jones finished fourth at the CCS Division III finals, despite battling an injury that curtailed her training, and qualified for state. Jones also qualified for state in track last year in the 800 meters.
After moving back to San Martin and transferring to Live Oak a few months ago, Jones began a cross-country season that saw her win several non-league meets, including the prestigious Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay, and sweep to the Tri-County Athletic league championship.
It was at the Artichoke that the light really came on for Jones.
“(That race) proved to me that I was learning better race strategy,” Jones said.
Raymond said Jones has the unique ability, especially for one so young, to properly pace herself during races.
“She has really good pace judgement,” Raymond said. “She doesn’t get out too fast and tire at the end, and she doesn’t go out too slow and have to rely on her kick at the end. I’m really pleased with her maturity as a sophomore.”
Raymond said he couldn’t be more pleased with Jones’ relationship with her teammates, too. Jones has provided a role model for her teammates, both girls and boys.
“It was really encour-aging to watch the chemistry,” he said. “We had nine girls on the team, including three returners, so we were a young team, and she bonded with all the girls right away. And, with the guys as well. She actually pushes some of the guys.”
Not that everything has come easily for Jones.
At CCS this year, Jones admits she was expecting to win, having previously competed successfully against the Milpitas pair that ended up finishing ahead of her in the section championships and turned in a stellar time on the Crystal Springs course before.
But muddy conditions slowed her down and she couldn’t approach her previous course record, which left her in third place.
And, at state last year, Jones finished back in the pack in 60th, and admits being disappointed in her showing. She vows to do better this year.
“It was a little nerve-wracking and I kind of froze up,” Jones said. “I’m going to do better this time.”
Raymond said he’d like to see Jones finish in the top 25 percent in her division, but pointed out that Division I is traditionally one of the stronger divisions.
“I don’t want to put too many undue expectations on her,” Raymond said.
Even if Jones doesn’t whip the competition at state this year, she has plenty of time to improve.
“I still have my junior and senior years,” Jones said.
“It’s an intriguing prospect to see what she can do,” Raymond said.
Jones is also planning on playing soccer at Live Oak this winter, and will run track in the spring.
