"Leapin' Leonard" Lands in D3 Hall of Fame

Former University of St. Thomas star Leonard Jones was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame, the organization announced yesterday.

Jones (pictured), a Minneapolis Patrick Henry graduate, won more career NCAA Division III indoor titles than any other athlete, earning seven during his career than spanned from 1991 to 1994. Indoors and outdoors, Jones occupied the top step of the D3 awards' podium nine times, tying him for the best ever among males.

Jones, nicknamed "Leapin' Leonard" in his day, won an NCAA record three national crowns at the 1994 NCAA D3 indoor meet with winning performances in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump.

Indoors, Jones was the long jump champion in 1991, 1992, and 1994. Outdoors, Jones won back-to-back long jump titles in 1992 and 1993.

With 19 Division III All-America designations in his career, Jones is tied for the most such honors among all D3 men.

Jones joins fellow Minnesotans Mike Manders, a throwing star at Hamline, and Concordia Moorhead Olympian Kris Kuehl in the D3 Hall of Fame.

Find the 2012 Hall of Fame class media release HERE. Find a full listing of D3 Hall of Famers HERE.

St. Thomas also ran a short feature on Jones, HERE, recently.

Photo courtesy of the University of St. Thomas.