Jones' coach said it was the perfect way to end the final sporting event of Harrodsburg High School, which will merge with Mercer County next school year.
"I was so hoping we would have the opportunity to break a record, knowing this was the last time Harrodsburg competes in anything," Harrodsburg coach Terry Yeast said. "And this record may stand for a long time."
Jones had his best jumps in the finals.
"During the high jump my knee didn't feel good and my first couple of (triple) jumps I was a bit rusty," he said. "On my second jump of the finals, I got 47-11, so I knew I could get it."
Jones' record jump could have been much better.
Jones was more than a foot behind the board on his final leap, which decreased his distance. If he had hit the board at the right spot, Jones estimated the jump would have been roughly 49-9 and broken the overall state record by six inches. "I did not touch the board whatsoever," he said.
"When I saw that jump, I knew it was a great jump," Yeast said. "We all wanted the big (overall record) one, but he was satisfied with the little jump."
Jones has done this with a bad left knee (his jumping leg) and a torn quad muscle.
"I hurt the knee a while back, and it has just been sore," Jones said. "I went to the doctor Thursday and he told me my quad was torn. It's been hurting since our first invitational, but I didn't know it was torn."
Jones will head to California for the Golden West Invitational next weekend after competing in the long jump here Saturday. He will go for his third straight triple jump title next season as a member of the Mercer team.
"I'm going to work hard all week hitting the board," he said. "I want to get 50 feet."
