Akela Jones was born on 22 April 1995 and is a Barbadian track and field athlete who holds Barbadian records in the women's heptathlon, pentathlon, long jump and high jump.
14 Facts About Akela Jones
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Akela Jones won gold in the long jump at the 2014 World Junior Championships.
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Akela Jones won two gold medals at the 2011 CARIFTA Games, winning both the high jump and the long jump.
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Akela Jones competed in the long jump at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, but was eliminated in the qualification.
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Akela Jones enrolled in Oklahoma Baptist University, a NAIA college, after the 2012 season; she had originally intended to go to the NCAA's Kansas State University, but lacked the course credits.
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Akela Jones set a Barbadian indoor record in women's pentathlon, 4194 points, in Wichita on 31 January 2014.
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Akela Jones repeated as NAIA indoor champion in both the high jump and long jump, and won the pentathlon and 60 m hurdles; in addition, she placed second in the flat 60 m, leading the Oklahoma Baptist women to a team championship.
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At her final CARIFTA Games appearance in April 2014, Akela Jones won the under-20 women's long jump, high jump and 100 m hurdles ; she received the Austin Sealy Award as the most outstanding athlete of the meet.
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In recognition of her achievements in 2014, Akela Jones was named Barbadian Sportspersonality of the Year.
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Akela Jones had a successful 2015 indoor season, winning the Big 12 Conference long jump title and setting Barbadian indoor records in the long jump and pentathlon ; her long jump mark ranked second in the NCAA that year, behind Jenna Prandini of Oregon.
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Outdoors, Akela Jones made her heptathlon debut at the Jim Click Invitational in Tucson, breaking the Barbadian record with her tally of 6049 points.
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The second heptathlon of Akela Jones's career was at the 2015 NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene; she won the championship with a wind-aided total of 6371 points, defeating defending champion Kendell Williams of Georgia.
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Akela Jones placed 20th in the heptathlon and did not make the finals for the high jump.
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Akela Jones was chosen to serve as flag bearer for Barbados in the Olympic closing ceremonies.