Tia Jones is coming for redemption! The hurdler has the track world on alert, and she’s only 24. This was a long time coming. Following her ACL injury, the athlete recovered just in time for the trials and made her way to the semis, but unfortunately, could not secure a ticket to Paris in 2024. But now, she is back! Moreover, with recent attention being focused on her life off the track, the athlete is going above and beyond to prove to the world that the real deal about her is her performance on the track. She’s locked in, laser-focused, and showing everyone exactly where her priorities lie. Jones showed up in Jamaica to participate in the Grand Slam Track, and her performance there?

She didn’t just compete, she cooked. Dropped a 12.63 in the 100m hurdles, grabbed the win, and walked off with a cool 12 points. And if you’re new here, those 12 points? That’s GST gold. First place. Leaderboard queen. Mic drop. Now let’s talk about how she did it.

This wasn’t just a race—it was a clash of titans. Picture it: Tia Jones vs. Jamaica vs. Olympic royalty. Danielle Williams came charging in at 12.70. Tokyo 2020 Olympics Gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn? Also 12.70. Tight as ever. But Tia? She stayed ice-cold and pulled away when it counted. Masai Russell, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 100 m hurdles, rounded out fifth in 12.78, but all eyes were on Jones. Why? Not just that she beat the Olympians, but there is more that Jones has to her credit!

The 22-year-old just snatched the 2025 world lead. Yep! Marione Fourie’s 12.69? Gone. Tia made sure her name’s at the top now. The way she’s been dominating the track and field scene lately especially after not qualifying for the Paris Olympics? Let’s just say the praise has been pouring in—and rightfully so.

That 12.63? Just a taste of what Tia Jones can do

One fan summed it up perfectly: “Tia Jones is the only one who opened up outdoors and she ended up winning lol.” Another hyped her up for taking down a stacked lineup: “Victorious over a stacked field‼️ Tia Jones takes the win in the first @grandslamtrack short hurdles event with a 12.63 over World champ Danielle Williams and 2021 Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who both clock 12.70s.” Talk about making a statement—Tia walked into the fire and walked out untouchable. But this something she has been dominating on since very beginning!

Tia Jones has been tearing up the track since she was a kid, and she’s been all gas, no brakes ever since. She went pro straight outta high school—no college pit stop, just straight to the big leagues. Back in the day, she was already making noise, winning gold at the World U20 Championships in the 4×100m relay in 2016, then again in the 100m hurdles in 2018. Oh, and she grabbed a bronze in hurdles in 2016 too, just for good measure.

Now fast forward to today—Tia Jones just dropped a 12.63 to win the 100m hurdles at the Kingston Grand Slam, and fans are losing it. But get this—she’s actually run faster. Her personal best is a crazy fast 12.38 seconds, set in 2022. So yeah, if you’re impressed now, just know Tia’s still got more in the tank.

Fans didn’t hold back their love—or their sass. “Tia Jones wins the first race in the Grand Slam Track women’s short hurdles group,” another chimed in, while someone else went full savage with: “You gotta respect Tia Jones, all this heat on her and she out here smacking hoes on the track!” The win wasn’t just a personal victory—it was a power move in front of a buzzing crowd.

Crazy to think that just last year, Tia Jones was sidelined with a nasty ACL tear. Yup—February 2024 hit her hard. Most athletes would’ve tapped out for the season, but not Tia. She powered through rehab, showed up at the Olympic Trials in May, and nearly pulled off the comeback of the year. She finished fourth and made it to the semis—not enough for Paris, but considering where she’d been just months before? That was major.

And honestly, before the injury even showed up to crash the party, Tia was already turning heads. Remember Albuquerque? She straight-up matched the world indoor record in the 60m hurdles with a 7.67. That’s not just fast—that’s history-making. So yeah, this Grand Slam glow-up? Not surprising.

As one sharp-eyed track head put it: “Tia Jones, the challenger, wins the W 100m hurdles in 12.63 against a super field! Love the racing, happy to see more fans tonight, just curious why that was not considered before. Again, shake down cruise, but as one keen observer noted: ‘They will spend $30 million on this?’” Jones definitely brought the heat, no doubt. But even her standout win couldn’t completely shield Grand Slam Track from criticism.

Despite the hype, the opening night on April 4th saw just 6,000 fans in a stadium built for 35,000. Not exactly the electric debut organizers hoped for. Some critics pointed out the flat atmosphere—sparse crowds, so-so music, and production that didn’t quite match the billion-dollar sports leagues GST is trying to emulate. Others questioned its “global” label, saying it felt more like a U.S.-centric showcase with minimal African or European presence on the track.

That said, there’s no denying the ambition behind GST. The league has pulled in over $30 million from investors and partners, with a $12.6 million prize pool and a massive $100K check for every event winner. The money’s real, and the talent is legit. Fans might be skeptical now, but it’s still early days—and with stars like Tia Jones lighting up the hurdles, things could heat up fast.