ROY — Initially, Roy High’s Jesse Jones picked up the javelin in hopes of merely attaining a 10th letter after netting four in basketball, four in golf and another in baseball.

But with graduation day closing in, Jones leads 5A in the event and ranks third in the entire state ahead of the Region 5 championships Wednesday and Thursday at Box Elder High School.

Jones had never picked up a javelin before this year but, as an avid golfer, he warmed up to the concept enough to make a visit to practice. At the annual City-County meet in March, just his third meet of the season, Jones threw for 164 feet and 4 1/2 inches to qualify for state.

At the time, that mark was the best in the state.

“It just started coming naturally and I had potential in it,” Jones said. “It’s a lot more waiting around and unpredictable. You’ve really got to base your warmup off the rolling schedule, which is kind of different because you’re showing up for a golf tournament and you have a designated time to warm up, so warming up for a track meet is a lot different in that way.”

Jones has bested that state-qualifying throw twice since: First for 167 feet and 11 inches at the Ogden Invitational last month, then again for a 5A-best 182 feet and 5 inches at the BYU Invitational over the weekend at the Clarence F. Robinson Track and Field Complex in Provo.

In four years, Jones has accomplished a lot between Ogden High and Roy, where he transferred as a junior beginning last school year.

In basketball, especially, Jones played a pivotal role in the paint as the Royals delivered the team’s first region title in over a decade. On the golf course, Jones tied for 22nd individually among 85 golfers at the 5A state championship last fall at Saratoga Springs.

None of his previous sports, Jones said, have been as specialized as the javelin.

“If you haven’t thrown javelin, it’s very technical,” Jones said. “It looks easy, but it’s not and anybody that has tried to throw it will understand that. … I’ve had to learn to be more relaxed. You want to muscle it out there, but you’re going to throw further when you’re building up elasticity in your arm — kind of like a catapult effect. You actually throw it further.”

Last year’s state champion, Easton Leavitt of Springville, won the javelin at 187 feet and 2 inches — so Jones is right there in the ballpark for a state medal this spring.

Outside of track, Jones enjoys being outdoors through hunting, fishing or golf. His post-high school plans aren’t decided, but he’s actively entertaining opportunities to play college golf.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.