Riding high from an impressive cross country season, Mansfield’s Darby Jones parlayed her well documented success into a college opportunity. The Lady Tiger senior officially signed to run cross country and track for Ouachita Baptist University at an intimate signing ceremony on Wednesday, February 16.
Surrounded by a loving support group lining Mansfield High School’s trophy room, Jones signed her letter of intent to join the OBU Tigers. The exclusive ceremony sealed the commitment by Mansfield’s number one distance runner to join the Purple Pride next fall as a collegiate freshman.
“I’ve been so blessed with family and friends, coach and teammates included,” Darby Jones expressed. “They have pushed me to be my best. I couldn’t have made it to the next level without their support.”
Those were the sentiments shared by Mansfield’s home-school runner as she reflected back on all the days leading to this moment.
“All the coaches in the recruiting process were so nice,” Jones went on to say. “When I decided on Ouachita, I let my family and then Coach (John) Mackey know first. I wanted to inform the schools that made offers next before it became public.”
Jones had several opportunities before making her decision. Several came from local in-state schools while others came from locations inside Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas borders.
“Darby had several offers to run in college,” Mansfield head coach John Mackey said at the morning assembly. “She really appreciated the interest other schools and coaches showed, but in the end her heart was set on Ouachita.”
“Her parents have Ouachita roots,” Mackey continued. “Some of her best friends are going there. She already knows several of her new teammates through past competitions and social circles. Ouachita just seemed like a perfect fit.”
Back in October, Jones made a great first impression on a member of the Ouachita coaching staff. Assistant OBU coach John Jones, no relation, was at the Rattler Run in Magazine scouting a trio of runners from Acorn, Fort Smith Southside, and Pottsville.
This same Coach Jones was once on staff at the University of Central Arkansas when Hannah Holstein, Mansfield’s only individual state cross country champion, ran for the UCA Bears. Because of that shared history, the now Ouachita assistant listened attentively as he bumped into Mansfield’s coach along the course of the senior girls 5K race.
“As Coach and I said hello, Darby came by running a close second to an athlete he was there to scout,” Mackey recalled. “I basically said if you want a winner, you might want to keep an eye on that Mansfield girl in red, right behind the leader.”
The obviously proud Mansfield mentor beamed as he retold the unexpected meeting at the Rattler Run.
“By the time the racers came back from the second loop, Darby had moved into first.” Mackey confirmed. “She was pulling away and won by a wide margin. It seemed like Ouachita’s coach immediately changed his focus. He met Darby at the finish line. The two struck up a very productive conversation. Within a few days, their Head Coach (Steve Guymon) made contact.”
Mansfield’s top qualifier throughout the 2021 season had several individual victories including the 2A-4 District medalist honors. In 14 races this season, the Ouachita signee earned 5 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 3 bronze medals, along with a fourth, fifth, and sixth place finish.
Jones’s fourth place finish was at the FBRV All-Star race pitting the best small school runners from the River Valley Region. Her fifth place mark was along a miss-measured extra long Lamar course navigated three days after she set a personal 5K record in 20:59.38 at the Today’s Bank Invitational. Her sixth place mark was her Hot Springs’ PR at the Arkansas Activities Association state finals.
“I’m really excited to be joining Ouachita Baptist,” Mansfield’s Jones confirmed. “I took my time and prayed about a difficult decision. I think my heart was with Ouachita.”
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