As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the Prairie Stars' Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one student-athlete, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.
This week, UIS recognizes Blake Jones as one of the 15 standout student-athletes who helped define the Prairie Stars' Division II era. The most accomplished distance runner in program history, Jones built a career that reshaped expectations for UIS men's cross country and track and field, producing championships, national breakthroughs, and a standard of excellence that elevated the entire program.
Jones arrived on campus in 2018 and quickly established himself as a force in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Over his career, he earned nine All-GLVC honors, including six individual conference championships, and was recognized multiple times as GLVC Runner of the Year. From the outset, his trajectory signaled something special for the Prairie Stars.
His breakout moment came during the 2019 indoor season, when Jones captured the 5,000-meter title at the GLVC Championships. The win marked the first individual conference championship in UIS track and field history. As a freshman, Jones defeated an upperclassman rival who entered the race as the favorite, announcing UIS as a program capable of producing elite distance talent.
Just months later, Jones added another historic milestone. At the 2019 outdoor GLVC Championships, he won the 10,000 meters to become the first outdoor conference champion in program history. That victory came on the same night that Taryn Christy secured the first women's outdoor title, a defining moment that underscored UIS' emergence as a conference power in distance events.
Jones' success carried seamlessly into cross country. In 2019, he became the first NCAA Division II national qualifier in UIS men's cross country history, earning all-region honors and leading the Prairie Stars on the national stage. His national appearance as a sophomore marked a turning point for the program and set the foundation for future postseason success.
The fall of 2020 brought another landmark achievement. Jones claimed the GLVC Individual Championship in cross country, becoming the first conference champion in UIS men's cross country history. Despite a shortened season and the absence of an NCAA postseason due to COVID-19, his performance cemented his place among the conference's elite.
Jones' dominance peaked in 2021, one of the most decorated stretches by any Prairie Star. In the spring, he swept the 1,500m and 5,000m at the GLVC Outdoor Championships, adding two more conference titles to his resume. The defining moment of Jones' career followed at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he competed against the nation's best and finished third in the 5,000 meters to earn All-American honors. With the performance, he became the first Prairie Star men's runner to achieve All-American status and the first to score points at a national track meet, finishing less than two seconds behind the national champion and cementing his place in program history. He also finished 13th in the 10,000 meters earlier in the meet.
That fall, Jones continued his historic run by capturing his third consecutive GLVC cross country title, earning GLVC Runner of the Year honors, and again securing all-region recognition with a fifth-place finish at the regional championship. He also qualified for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships for the second time in his career.
Across cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, Jones consistently produced performances that ranked among the best in NCAA Division II. His career bests remain benchmarks for UIS distance runners.
Cross Country
- 8,000m: 23:49
- 10,000m: 30:15
Outdoor Track
- 5,000m: 13:46
- 10,000m: 29:01
- 1,500m: 3:48
Indoor Track
Jones' impact extended beyond competition. He also excelled academically, earning Academic All-American honors, multiple Academic All-District selections, and repeated recognition on the GLVC Academic All-Conference team. His success in the classroom mirrored his commitment and discipline on the track.
By the time his career concluded, Jones had redefined what was possible for UIS men's distance running. A six-time GLVC Individual Champion, multiple-time Runner of the Year, four-time national qualifier, and the program's first All-American, his legacy is woven into the fabric of Prairie Stars Athletics.
Explore the growing list of
NCAA Division II 15 Years Anniversary honorees celebrating the legacy of Prairie Stars Athletics.
