It's a running career that almost didn't happen.  Winston-Salem State junior Vanessa Jones began running at Northwest Middle School in Winston-Salem. Quitting crossed her mind then and again when she was a junior at North Forsyth High School. 
 
'My middle school coach said I wanted to quit, but I started to see improvements in my time, so I decided to stick it out," Jones recalled.  "My junior year was a little bit tough.  I had some bad times."
 
Fortunately, perseverance prevailed, and Jones' career has been on the rise since her appearance in the NCHSAA State Cross Championship.  "It felt good to advance to the states even though I wasn't in the top 20," Jones remembers.  "It was one of my biggest accomplishments in cross county."
 
Little did Jones know it was the beginning of even bigger accomplishments.  She led the Rams cross country team to a second-place finish in last year's CIAA Cross Country Championship, only three points behind Fayetteville State.  Her 2021 recognitions included being named to the All-CIAA Cross Country team and Runner of the Week on September 29.  She finished first or second in every meet last year.
 
 She also ran distance events on the WSSU CIAA Outdoor Track and Field championship team, winning the 3000-meter run.  Jones earned All-CIAA titles in both indoor and outdoor track.
 
Jones has finished first for the Rams in every cross country meet this season.  She has been named the CIAA Runner of the Week for three consecutive weeks.
 
"It feels good," she said.  "I'm just blessed to be able to run. I'm proud of myself.
I definitely see myself being able to achieve greatness.  I didn't see dominating in the CIAA in indoor and outdoor."
 
All of Jones' success still hasn't calmed her nerves before a meet.  "I still get nervous at meets," she said.  "I over think.  I think of the worst of myself." 
 
The CIAA shut down all running events during Covid, so Jones is only a sophomore athletically.  She's contemplating using the fifth year as a graduate student at WSSU.  "I'm not complaining because it gave me an extra year," said Jones.  "It definitely gave me a base."
 
Her running strategy has changed.  "I like to get out first," Jones explained.  "I like to get with the lead pack and hit that mile with a good time, anything under 6:30.  Sometimes I feel like that second mile is kicking my butt.  I start to pick it up at the finish line. I accelerate to beat the clock and my competitors."
 
She doesn't like to look over her shoulder to locate where other runners are.  "That can definitely psyche me out and take away my focus," said Jones.  "I did that at the last meet.  I will not be doing it again."
 
Her goal is to get her 5k time under 20 minutes.  "I want to break 20," she emphasized.  "I've been wanting to do that since high school.  It's not unachievable.  My best time this year is 20:29. I've got to work on pacing myself and being more strategic.   I can definitely do it."
 
Early morning practices are something Jones looks forward to.  "I like to get it out of the way," she said.  "It gives me an energy boost for the rest of the day.  I feel good, productive."
 
Jones had no problems adjusting to Antonio Wells' coaching style.  He served as the interim coach last fall after the departure of head coach KayMarie Jones.  Wells was named head coach after cross country season ended.
 
"Coach Jones was louder and more aggressive," Jones said.  "Coach Wells is more laid back but not too laid back that he lets you do anything.  He's more strategic.  He breaks it down on times and how to run."
 
She offered advice on what to expect for any runner who is contemplating coming to WSSU.  "Expect change and more demands," Jones said.  "You have to come to practice with a positive attitude.  You're going to have good days and bad days, but you can expect a family atmosphere that will support you on and off the track."
 
Those middle school feelings of quitting have long since evaporated. "I remember the end goal," Jones offered.  "I've come this far so I'm definitely not quitting now.  I love what I do.  I want to be the old person running in the park."
 
With over five semesters of eligibility remaining, Jones surely has more All-CIAA titles ahead.  And she will a be a key part of Wells' plan to keep WSSU at the top of cross country and track in the CIAA.