Jones competes at Jr. Olympics

Last week, District 2A Shot Put Champ and Marlin High School senior, Praiyer Jones, competed in the 56th AAU Jr. Olympic Games on the campus of North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. Wednesday, Aug. 3, Praiyer launched the shot put 57’ 10.5 inches, a personal best this season which landed him in 6th place.  With a discus throw of 143’6 inches, on Thursday, Aug. 4, Praiyer finished in 21st  place out of nearly 100 throwers nationwide. Although Praiyer wasn’t able to bring home the Junior Olympic Gold, he told us that his Junior Olympic experience has made him “even more determined to defend his state champion title in the shot put in 2023 and place in the discus as well. By this being my senior year, I pray to God that I stay healthy during football season and start throwing again in late December, so I can begin training for the annual Carl Lewis Indoor meet in January. Praiyer, along with his parents, would like to extend a huge thank you to the following families, community members and businesses for contributing to his 2022 Jr. Olympic bid: Addai Jones, Allen Canady, Alvin Lofton, Brande Aldrich, Brandon and Tiffany Lofton, Brittney Johnson, Brittney Washington, Carolyn Lofton, Cedric Davis, Charles Davis, Charles Rayeveau, Curtis Jobe, Donald Ray Tubbs, Doyle and Nancy Ross, Elizabeth Solis, Frankie Degrano, Gafford Auto-Marlin, Ginger Jefferson, Herman Bell, Ivanette Lofton, Jade Wrighter, James Talton, Jerry Ward, John and Sandra Armstrong, Kendrick Ellis, Kenneth Sims, Kenyatta Wrighter, Kokomo Moore, Lee Davidson, Linda Minoc, Linda Taylor, Lottie Lofton, Lynn and Sue Gafford, Mack Tubbs, Marvin and Tanya Ross, Mary C. Leone, Mary Jones, Matthew Bailey, Mount Zion-Kosse, Mrs. Nicki , Pastor Durrell Ward and Family, Pastor Francis Green Sr., Pastor James and LaTonja Taplin, Pastors Leo and Ethelene Green, Ray and Sharon Lloyd, Roosevelt and Delicia Moore, Roosevelt Shelley, Sammie Lofton-Washington, Shack’s Quick Mart-Marlin, Terrance and Irvinette Moore, Tyesha Lowe, and Walmart-Marlin.