PROFILE – Shannon Jones

PROFILE

Shannon Jones

The most recent orienteer to win initial selection to compete for Australia at the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) is Shannon Jones of Red Roos, ACT. Shannon was no. 73 to run in Australian colours at WOC when she lined up in Hungary for the Sprint event on August 20th.

Shannon demonstrated her running ability with some very good performances in major Canberra races earlier this year and has combined that ability with her Orienteering technique to win selection in the Australian Boomerangs team which competed at WOC in Hungary last month.

Shannon’s climb through the Orienteering ranks has been something of a stop‑and‑go affair in years past as she tried to balance her studies with training and racing.

1987 started orienteering with the family in Wagga Wagga;

1994-1998 Member of NSW Junior Orienteering training Squad;

1997 moved to Canberra;

2000-2003 didn’t really orienteer or run much at all throughout her university years;

2004 Shannon moved to Sweden for a year to live with Grant Bluett (she was still just a social orienteer, no training);

2005 Moved back in Canberra with Grant and started working as a teacher. No running or orienteering;

2006 Shannon started training and got a couple of ok results in National Orienteering League races;

2007 Lazy! (she says). Didn’t orienteer or run this year;

2008 Shannon says: “I decided to see if I could run every day of my January holidays because I was really unfit. I ended up running every single day of the year (still haven’t had a rest day yet!) and got back into Orienteering. Started doing PB’s in 5km and 10km running races. Got an equal first in the National Orienteering League Sprint race at the University of Canberra in April, and 2nd at the WOC Sprint trial in Tasmania (but I didn’t nominate for WOC). I was selected for the Bushrangers team competing at the Australian Championships in QLD but was very disappointed with my runs”;

2009 “I decided to keep running and Orienteering as I am loving it. Got new PB’s for 5km (18.02) and 10km (38.15 - I think). Grant helps me plan training and gives advice on training and racing. I’m super excited about going to WOC in Hungary this year!”