Celebrating Women in Sport and Physical Activity - Profiles
Courtney Jones, '14 - 2016 Honoree
Courtney Jones was an active, athletic high school student in Fremont. She was on the swim team and threw the shot put for the track and field team.
Although active, Jones was overweight. She was teased and bullied about her weight and decided to take action. Jones began walking and riding her bicycle more. She lost 70 pounds and found a passion for fitness. During her senior year, she ran for Fremont's cross country team.
When Jones enrolled at Grand Valley, she combined her love of biking, swimming and running and joined the GVSU Triathlon Club.
Competing against club teams from the Big Ten, Jones quickly improved her times and — on a whim — decided to enter the Triathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2013. She placed 16th in her age group, which qualified her to join Team USA at the Triathlon World Championships in Canada in 2014.
Racing for Team USA means access to a coach, training plans and other resources.
She placed 26th in her age group at the World Championships and took that momentum into the 2015 triathlon season, winning the Grand Rapids and Grand Haven events.
Her times at top regional and national events caught the attention of Florida-based Blackfish Racing, which Jones said, "takes an activist approach to racing." Blackfish is among her sponsors.
While training last summer, Jones had a bicycle accident that forced her to sit out the rest of the season. She took advantage of the time by working in the weight room more to build strength. Often, Jones trains by herself around the Reeds Lake area and enjoys riding her bicycle in Ada and Sparta.
Jones and her fiancé, Michael Rajnicek, founded Podium Promotions, a race marketing team that works with race directors to provide website design, print and t-shirt design and social media services. An art and design graduate, Jones also creates her own line of jewelry and accessories.
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