Jones places in Yellowstone Classic

Recently, Kaila Jones placed fifth in the Open Class A Bikini division of the Yellowstone Classic.

Jones said the Classic is a bodybuilding competition, where athletes train in different divisions, including Bodybuilding, Figure, Physique, Classic Physique and Bikini. She further explained competitions like Figure are judged more on muscle and how cut a person looks, whereas Bikini is focused more on the softer side, and not so focused on muscle. However, she pointed out "they still want you coming in having some muscle."

Prior to her placing in the Open class, Jones placed ninth in Novice. The fifth place in Open makes her nationally qualified for one of the bigger shows. Right now, she's keeping her focus on one show at a time, and on Nov. 12 she's heading to Golden, Colo. for the Rocky Mountain Championships. She's also looking to see what she can improve on to place at a higher level. This is new territory - going past one show - and it's got her both nervous and excited.

This year marks the second Jones has competed in the Classic, as she took a fourth place finish in 2014. In preparing for the 2014 competition, she trained alongside Amy Blake. Jones said the prep work includes workout routines and eating right, taking in enough proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats. The workout, she noted varies depending on the day; for example, Fridays are "Flex Fridays" and she would work her biceps.

"I love leg days," she said, noting it seems funny because, at competition she was able to talk to the judges and they said she should target her gluts and her legs.

As for the day of competition, Jones explained in the morning show, they call contestants' numbers; the contestants then go out to center stage, do a front facing pose, a back pose and turn back to front. Contestants then go off to the side of the stage. Following that, contestants are called by groups of five and asked to do the poses, so they can be compared side by side. The day also includes an evening show, which involves contestants coming out to center stage and performing their favorite pose, then going to the sidelines. So many women go to each side, Jones said, "and you hold your poses for as long as you can without shaking." Obviously, this is a bit more challenging for those called first. "I'm so glad I've never been the first one out on stage."

Jones' love of bodybuilding stemmed from high school, where she had a love for gym class. She noted teacher LeRoy Hayes "always made it fun, and always had us trying to strive to better ourselves for any of the sports we were in." She couldn't do sports the last two years of high school due to a knee injury, so she instead hit the gym and fell in love with weightlifting. One of the women there, Shantel White, was an inspiration.

"She was lifting heavy," Jones said, "and still so beautiful."

After high school, she always wanted to do more, but never really pursued it, until she got a call to work out with her friend Amy Blake. Jones said she needs to have a goal to strive for, and that goal was to be in a Bikini competition; Blake offered to help her, for the 2014 competition. At the same event, Blake competed in Figure, taking Overall Figure.

Jones said she didn't handle coming out of competition well, as she wasn't prepared for it mentally. She did not plan to do any more, but this past summer she was asked by her friend Brant Knight to play on his softball team, which she did. He also asked why she wasn't going to compete anymore, and offered to train her. She agreed, as over a weekend tournament she had told herself she could do it again. Knight has been her coach, trainer and sponsor since the summer. He noted her dedication to stick with a rigid diet and the plan he came up with for her.

Jones said Knight trained, pursued his dream of competing and is now a sponsored athlete; getting sponsorship is something Jones is also pursuing. Companies look at what athletes post, such as workout pictures and videos, that would show they are good representative of particular company. It's a bit different for Jones, who doesn't like to be the center of attention, as she's recently been doing some "hashtagging." She would rather share it, and bring other people into it. "I want to help Brant make a bigger KnightVision [Bodyworks] team. That's my goal."

Jones has lived in Thermopolis since she was five, and she feels very honored and blessed to be able to pursue the competitions, and be able to have the time, energy and support from everyone.

"That's what's awesome about a little town. Everybody knows you, and when you're really striving for something they're always there to motivate you, support you and lift you up."