Tina Leatherman Jones was an outstanding sprinter for the Frederick Track and Field Club, the Governor Thomas Johnson High School team, and at Penn State University, where she received a four-year track scholarship. She set the meet record for the 220-yard dash at the first Maryland State High School Girls’ Championships held in 1972. While competing for Penn State, she set numerous meet and stadium records in the 100-yard dash, the 440 and 880 relays, and in the long jump. In 1974 and 1975 she was named the Nittany Lions’ Outstanding Woman Track Athlete. She competed internationally in 1974 in the U.S.A.–Canada meet and in 1975 in the U.S.A.–Bermuda meet.