“Well, I always expect the unexpected. I was expecting my dreams to come true and (I am) actually running the Grand Slam, so, I’m very appreciative.” Three weeks ago, Tia Jones stood in front of reporters, trying hard to mask the weight she was carrying. Her smile told one story, but her eyes whispered another.

Competing in the Grand Slam Track series had been a dream come true, but the reality was bittersweet. She had made it to the big stage, but in the women’s 100m hurdles, she fell short. That one loss cost her the shot at the Grand Slam title and the $100,000 winner’s prize. But there’s a lot more happening in Tia Jones’s life than just race results.

Her personal world has been turned upside down by an ongoing legal battle with her ex-fiancé, NFL player Xavier Worthy. And professionally, she’s had to claw her way back from one of the most dreaded injuries for a hurdler—an ACL tear. That injury struck last year during the USA Indoor Championships. After undergoing reconstructive surgery, most doubted whether she’d return in time for the Olympic trials. She proved them wrong—almost.

Tia made it to the trials, but didn’t start in the semifinals of the women’s 100m hurdles. A DNS next to her name was a silent heartbreak. Then came months of silence. No races. No headlines. Just healing. Grinding. Believing. And then, in March this year, Tia Jones made her long-awaited return to competition. Naturally, questions swirled about her form, her mindset, and whether the former teenage prodigy could still rise among the elite.

On May 1, at the pre-event press conference ahead of the Grand Slam Track: Miami, Jones faced those questions head-on. “I personally think that every single time I step onto the track, all I give is my best,” she said firmly. “I’m just that type of athlete, whenever I step on the line, I’m pretty confident, always in the mix. So as far as the preparation, dialing down, focusing and executing, cleaning up those things, and cleaning up on, and I’m ready for the next Slam, which I’m excited for.” 

The 24-year-old is set to compete on May 2 in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar. But this won’t be an easy walk. She’s lining up against a stacked field, including Masai Russell, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, and Ackera Nugent—some of the best hurdlers in the world. Still, Jones isn’t just showing up to compete. She’s showing up to be seen

“Personally, I feel like I have so much to show myself to the world,” Jones said. “A lot of people may not know this but I have been off ACL rupture. Last season, after I finished indoors, I fell on the bank. It was my ACL, so I think people forget that I am still coming back,” With every race, she’s regaining rhythm. With every hurdle, she’s reclaiming belief.

Jones added, “The Grand Slam is a great event for me to show my talent. So, I’m just capable and glad to be here. I’m excited for the next Slam.” As the sun rises over Miramar on race day, Tia Jones won’t just be chasing a title. She’ll be chasing peace, pride, and the proof that comebacks are often greater than the setbacks. Hopefully, she will find her own records on track to motivate her. 

Tia Jones has some phenomenal numbers this year 

On April 6, she faced a tough moment, finishing sixth in the women’s 100m at the Grand Slam Track. It was a disappointing result, no doubt. But true to her character, she didn’t flinch. She didn’t make excuses. She smiled. “All the girls are so very fast,” she said after the race. “I’m running against the fastest girls in the world, so it was a great race.” That humility might’ve hidden what she had already accomplished just one day earlier. On April 5, in the same meet, Jones dominated the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking 12.63 seconds to claim the top spot. But even that wasn’t her most eye-popping performance this season.

Back in April at the Texas Invitational, Tia scorched the track with a 12.49 (-0.5 m/s wind)—a time that should’ve had the world buzzing. Yet strangely, in World Athletics’ world-leading list, Grace Stark sits at the top with her 12.51 (+0.2). It’s a technicality driven by wind conditions, but it only sharpens the focus on what Tia Jones is capable of when she’s on. Let that sink in: Tia’s 12.49 is the fastest raw time in the world this season. It’s just not recognized as such on paper.

Still, she’s not chasing rankings—she’s chasing rhythm, redemption, and a return to her peak. And every meet is another step closer. Now, the spotlight shifts to the Miami Grand Slam Track, where Jones is set to line up in the women’s 100m hurdles on May 2. Are you guessing the result? Let us know in the comment box.