Jones Gets Owens Award Again

ORLANDO, Fla. —  Marion Jones, who was undefeated in the sprints this year, and John Godina, unbeaten in the shot put, are the winners of the Jesse Owens Memorial Awards for 1998.

Jones, a 1993 graduate of Thousand Oaks High, was 36-0 for the year in the 60, 100, 200 and 400 meters and long jump before finishing second to Heike Drechsler of Germany in the long jump at the World Cup--her final competition.

Indoors, Jones equaled the U.S. 60-meter record of 6.95 seconds.

Outdoors, she was the world leader in the 100 at 10.65 seconds and in the 200 at 21.62, both at the World Cup, making her the No. 2 performer in history behind the late Florence Griffith Joyner.

At the USA Championships in New Orleans, Jones became the first woman in 50 years to win the 100, 200 and long jump.

Jones, chosen 1997 and 1998 female athlete of the year by Track and Field magazine, won nine state championships in high school.