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College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University

Dr. Margaret T. Jones
(she/her/hers)
PhD, University of Georgia
Professor
Center for Sport Management
Sport and Recreation Studies
Sport Management

Contact Information

Send email to Dr. Jones

Phone: (703) 993-3247
Fax: (703) 993-2025
Email: mjones15 (@gmu.edu)

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall 211F
4400 University Dr.
MS 4D2
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile

Dr. Jones earned a BA from the University of Tennessee (English), an MEd from the University of Houston (Exercise Science), a PhD from the University of Georgia (Exercise Physiology), and completed an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University (Physiology). She holds Fellow status in the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and is an NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She served on the NSCA Board of Directors from 2017-2020, and was honored as the 2008 NSCA Educator of the Year. In 2014, Dr.Jones was awarded a George Mason University OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award. She has authored publications in the area of human performance and athlete health in peer-reviewed academic journals, and has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Jones participates in editorial and review activities for several journals, including Associate Editor-in-Chief, Strength and Conditioning Journal, and Senior Associate Editor, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. She was awarded the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Editorial Excellence Award in 2022. A Beck Foundation Faculty Fellow, Dr. Jones serves as the Director of the Patriot Performance Laboratory of the Frank Pettrone Center for Sports Performance at George Mason University.

Research Interests

Human Performance and Athlete Health

  • Athlete Load Monitoring
  • Musculoskeletal Strength and Power
  • Nutrition Practices and Dietary Habits
Recent Publications

Peer-reviewed Published Articles (2018-present):

  1. Magee, M.K., Jones, M.T., Fields, J.B., Kresta, J., Khurelbaatar, C., Dodge, C., Merfeld, B., Ambrosius, A., Carpenter, M.,  and Jagim, A.R. (2023) Body composition, energy availability, risk of eating disorder, and sport nutrition knowledge in young athletes. Nutrients 15, (X). https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx
  2. Askow, A.A., Jennings, W., Jagim, A.R., Fields, J.B., Beaudoin, R.G., Sanchez, G.M., Weeks, J.E, Oliver, J.M., and Jones, M.T. (In press) Athlete external load measures across a competitive season in high school basketball. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
  3. Guthrie, B.M., King, E., Patwardhan, S., Wei, Q., Sikdar, S., Chitnis, P.V., and Jones, M.T. (2023) Mechanical and psychophysiological load influence patellar tendon adaptations and neuromuscular performance in NCAA Division I men’s volleyball athletes. Frontiers in Sport and Active Living Section: Elite Sports and Performance Enhancement Volume 5 - 2023 doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1065470
  4. Lu, T., Jones, M.T., Yom, J. Ai Ishida, A., and White, J.B. (2023) Physiological and biomechanical responses to exercise on two different types of rowing ergometers in NCAA Division I oarswomen. European Journal of Applied Physiology  DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05172-w PMID: 36929015
  5. Lust,  C.A.C., Burns, J., Jones, M.T., Smith, S.B., Kirk, M., Gable, D., Ma, D.W.L., and Oliver, J. (In press) The dose response effect of docosahexaenoic acid in American football athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise PMID: 36728325 DOI:10.1249/mss.0000000000003117
  6. Kuhlman, N.K., Jones, M.T., Jagim, A.R., Feit, M.K., Aziz, R., Crabill, T., and Fields, J.B. (In press) Relationship between external loads, sRPE-Load, and self-reported soreness across a men’s collegiate soccer season. Biology of Sport.
  7. Marqués-Jiménez, D., Calleja-González, J., Arratibel-Imaz, I,  Jones, M.T., and Terrados, N. (In press) Effect of acute and residual match-induced fatigue on repeated sprint ability in soccer players. Science et Sports
  8. Fields, J.B., Jones, M.T., Feit, M.K., and Jagim, A.R. (In press) External loads across a collegiate men’s lacrosse season. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research PMID: 36727683 DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004444
  9. Burke, A.A., Guthrie, B.M., Magee, M., Miller, A.D., and Jones, M.T. (In press) Revisiting the assessment of strength, power and change of direction in collegiate American football athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research PMID: 36752757 DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004441
  10. Fields, J.B., Magee, M.K., Jones, M.T., Askow, A.T., Camic, C.L,  Luedke, J., and  Jagim, A.R. (In press) The accuracy of nine resting metabolic rate prediction equations in men and women collegiate athletes. European Journal of Sport Science PMID: 36168819
  11. Jagim, A.R., Luedke, J.A., Dobbs, W., Almonroeder, T., Markert, A., Zapp, A., Askow, A.T., Kesler, R.M., Fields, J.B., Jones, M.T., and Erickson, J.L. (2023) Physiological demands of a self-paced firefighter air-management course and determination of work efficiency Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 8(1), 21. PMID: 36810505
  12. Calleja-Gonzalez, J., Mallo, J., Sampaio, J.E., Jones, M.T., Marques-Jimenez, D., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., Freitas, T.T., Alcaraz, P.E., Vilamitjana, J., Ibanez, S.J., Cuzzolin, F., Terrados, N., Bird, S., Zubillaga, A., Huyghe, T., Jukic, I., Calvo, A.L., Loturco, I., Delextrat, A., Schelling, X., Gomez-Ruano, M.A., Lopez-Laval, I., Cos, F., Vazquez-Guerrero, J., Conte, D., Velarde, A., Bores, A., Ferioli, D., Garcia, F., Peirau, X., Martin-Acero, R., Lago-Penas, C. (2023) A commentary of factors related to player availability and its influence on performance in elite team sports. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living: Elite Sports and Performance Enhancement PMID: 36726395
  13. McKay, A., Jones, M.T., and Gallo, S. (2023) Differences in cardiometabolic biomarkers between elementary school-age Latinx children with obesity vs. healthy weight. Southern Medical Journal 116(2), 188-194. DOI 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001506
  14. Guthrie, B., Jagim, A.R., and Jones, M.T. (2023) Ready or not, here I come: A scoping review of methods used to assess player readiness via indicators neuromuscular function in football code athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal 45(1), 93-110.
  15. Merrigan, J.J., Jones, M.T., Malecek, J., Padecky, J., Omcirk, D., Xu, N., Peñailillo, L., and Tufano, J.J. (2022) Comparison of traditional and rest-redistribution sets on indirect markers of muscle damage following eccentric exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 36(7), 1810-1818. PMID: 33021579
  16. Merrigan, J.J., Borth, J., Taber, C.B., Suchomel, T.J., and Jones, M.T. (2022) Application of accentuated eccentric loading to elicit acute and chronic velocity and power improvements: A narrative review. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning 2(1). doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v2i1.80
  17. Merrigan, J.J., O’Toole, K.B., Wutzke, C.J., and Jones, M.T. (2022) A kinetic and kinematic analysis of various drop jump performances in Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadets. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 36(3), 738-746. PMID: 34132221
  18. Jagim, A.R., Fields, J., Magee, M.K., Kerksick, C.M., and Jones, M.T. (2022) Contributing factors to low energy availability in female athletes: A narrative review of energy availability, training demands, nutrition barriers, body image, and disordered eating. Nutrients 14(5), 986. PMID: 35267961
  19. Fields, J.B., Merrigan, J.J., Feit, M.K., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Practice versus game external load measures in starters and non-starters of a men’s collegiate soccer team. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v1i1.76
  20. Jagim, A.R., Wright, G.A., Camic, C.L., Kisiolek, J.N., Luedke, J., Oliver, J.M., Fischer, K.M. and Jones, M.T. (2021) Relationship between training load and recovery in collegiate American football players during pre-season training. Journal of Science and Medicine in Football 5(4), 330-338. PMID: 35077303
  21. Dabbs, N.C., Espericueta, S., Bonilla, S., and Jones, M.T. (2021) The effects of whole-body vibration on fatigue in vertical jump performance and isometric mid-thigh pull measures. Vibration 4 (4), 759-767.
  22. Fields, J.B., Merrigan, J.J., Gallo, S., White, J.B., and Jones, M.T. (2021) External and internal load measures during pre-season training in men collegiate soccer athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(9), 2572-2578. PMID: 34431484
  23. Guthrie, B., Fields, J.B., Thompson, B., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Physical performance assessments of strength and power in women collegiate athletes. International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6), 984-993. PMID: 34567381
  24. Jagim, A.R., Fields, J.B., Magee, M., Kerksick, C., Luedke, J., Erickson, J. and Jones, M.T. (2021) The influence of sport nutrition knowledge on body composition and perceptions of dietary requirements in collegiate athletes. Nutrients 13(7), 2239. PMID: 34209814
  25. Fields, J.B., Lockard, B.L., Magee, M.K., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Morning versus evening short-term whey protein supplementation in collegiate athletes. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition 4(3), 13.
  26. Magee, M.K., White, J.B., Merrigan, J.J., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Does the multistage 20-m shuttle run test accurately predict VO2max in NCAA Division I women collegiate field hockey athletes? Sports 9(6), 75. PMID: 34073418
  27. Luk, H.Y., Jones, M.T., and Vingren, J.L. (2021) Effect of rest period configurations on systemic inflammatory response in resistance-trained women. Journal of Sports Sciences 39(13), 1504-1511. PMID: 33634732
  28. Merrigan, J.J., Tufano, J., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Potentiating effects of accentuated eccentric loading are dependent upon relative strength. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(5), 1208-1216. PMID: 33651736
  29. Fields, J.B., Lameira, D.M., Short, J.L., Merrigan, J.J., Gallo, S., White, J.B., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Relationship between external load and self-reported wellness measures across a men’s collegiate soccer pre-season. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(5), 1182-1186. PMID: 33677459
  30. Merrigan, J.J. and Jones, M.T. (2021) Acute inflammatory, cortisol, and soreness responses to supramaximal accentuated eccentric loading. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35, (2S), S107-S113. PMID: 33666595
  31. Merrigan, J.J., Volgenau, K.M., McKay, A., Mehlenbeck, R., Jones, M.T., and Gallo, S. (2021) Bidirectional associations between physical activity and sleep in early-elementary age Latino children with obesity. Sports 9, (26), 1-6. PMID:33670086
  32. Merrigan, J.J., Tufano, J.J., Falzone, M., and Jones, M.T. (2021) Effectiveness of accentuated eccentric loading: Contingent on concentric load. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 16(1), 66-72. PMID: 33186894
  33. Magee, M.K., Lockard, B.L., Zabriskie, H.A., Schaefer, A.Q., Luedke, J.A., Erickson, J.L., Jones, M.T., and Jagim, A.J. (2020) Prevalence of low energy availability in collegiate women soccer athletes. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 5(96), 1-9. PMID: 33467311
  34. Merrigan, J.J., Jones, M.T., Padecky, J., Malecek, J., Omcirk, D., and Scott, B.R., and Tufano, J.J. (2020) Impact of rest-redistribution on fatigue during maximal eccentric knee extensions. Journal of Human Kinetics 74, 205-214. PMID: 33312288. 
  35. Merrigan, J.J., Dabbs, N.C. and Jones, M.T. (2020) Isometric mid-thigh pull kinetics: Sex differences and response to whole-body vibration. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(9), 2407-2411. PMID: 32865941.
  36. Merrigan, J.J., Tufano, J.J., Fields, J.B., Oliver, J.M., and Jones, M.T. (2020) Rest redistribution does not alter hormone responses in resistance-trained women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(7), 1867-1874. PMID: 32598121.
  37. Jagim, AR., Murphy, J., Shafer, A.Q., Askow, A.T., Luedke, J.A., Erickson, J.L., and Jones, M.T. (2020) Match demands of women’s collegiate soccer. Sports 8(6), 1-11. PMID: 32545603
  38. Calleja-Gonzalez, J., Marques-Jimenez, D., Jones, M.T., Hughes, D.T., Navarro, F., Delextrat, A., Jukic, I., Ostojic, S., Sampaio, J., Schelling, X., Alcaraz, P., Sanchez-Bañuelos, F., Leibar, X., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., Terrados, N. (2020) What are we doing wrong when athletes report higher levels of fatigue from traveling than from training or competition? Frontiers in Psychology 11, 194. PMID: 32153454
  39. Fields, J.B., Esco, M.R., Merrigan, J.J., White, J.B., and Jones, M.T. (2020) Internal training load measures during a competitive season in collegiate women lacrosse athletes. International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4), 778-788. PMID: 32509129
  40. Merrigan, J.J., Gallo, S., Fields, J.B., Mehlenbeck, R., and Jones, M.T. (2020) Relationships among metabolic-risk, body fatness, and muscular fitness in young obese Latino children. International Journal of Exercise Science 13(3), 488-500. PMID: 32509118
  41. Sekel, N., Gallo, S., Fields, J., Jagim, A.R., Wagner, T., and Jones, M.T. (2020) The effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on vitamin D status among a diverse population of collegiate basketball athletes: A quasi-experimental trial. Nutrients. 12(370), 1-13. PMID: 32023809 
  42. Fields, J.B., Gallo, S., Worswick, J.M., Busteed, D.R., and Jones, M.T. (2020) 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D binding protein, bioavailable 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, and body composition in a diverse sample of women collegiate indoor athletes. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 5, (32), 1-9. PMID: 33467248
  43. Merrigan, J.J., Tufano, J.J., Oliver, J.M., White, J.B., Fields, J.B., and Jones, M.T. (2020) Reducing the loss of velocity and power in women athletes via rest redistribution. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 15(2), 255-261. PMID: 31188704
  44. Gallo, S., Jones, M.T., Doig, A.C., Kogan, K., Fields, J., Wonderlich, J., Hansen, A., Lacharite, K., and Mehlenbeck, R. (2020) Feasibility of a multidisciplinary and culturally-adapted pediatric weight management program for Latino families: Results from the Vidas Activas y Familias Saludables (VALÉ) Pilot Study. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 52(1), 55-63.  PMID: 31706793
  45. Fields, J.B., Payne, D.C., Gallo, S., Busteed, D., and Jones, M.T. (2019) Vitamin D status differs by sex, sport-season, and skin pigmentation among elite collegiate basketball players. Sports 7(239), 1-9. PMID: 31752086
  46. Merrigan, J.J., Jones, M.T., and White, J.B. (2019) A comparison of compound set and traditional set resistance training in women: Changes in muscle strength, endurance, quantity, and architecture. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise 1(3), 264-272. doi.org/10.1007/s42978-019-00030-8
  47. Calleja-González, J., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., Ostojic, S.M., Jones, M.T., Caparros, T., and Terrados, N. (2019) Evidence-based post-exercise recovery strategies in rugby: a narrative review. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 47(2), 137-147. PMID: 30369286
  48. Stone, J.D., King, A.C., Mata, J.D., Goto, S., Hannon, J., Garrison, J.C., Bothwell, J., Jagim, A.R., Jones, M.T., and Oliver, J.M. (2019) Joint-level analyses of the back squat with and without intra-set rest. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 14(5), 583-598. PMID: 30427251
  49. Jagim, A.R., Camic, C.L., Askow, A., Luedke, J., Erickson, J., Kerksick, C., Jones, M.T., and Oliver, J.M. (2019) Sex differences in resting metabolic rate among athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 33(11), 3008-3014. PMID: 30199450
  50. Stone, J.D., Kreutzer, A., Mata, J.D., Nystrom, M.G., Jagim, A.R., Jones, M.T., and Oliver, J.M. (2019) Changes in creatine kinase and hormones over the course of an American football season. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 33(9), 2481-2487. PMID: 28394834
  51. Jones, M.T., Oliver, J.M., Delgado, J.C., Merrigan, J.J., Jagim, A.R., and Robison, C.E. (2019) Effect of acute complex training on upper body force and power in collegiate wrestlers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 33(4), 902-909. PMID: 29470365
  52. Askow, A.T., Merrigan, J.J., Neddo, J.M., Oliver, J.M., Stone, J.D., Jagim, A.R, and Jones, M.T. (2019) Effect of strength on velocity and power during back squat exercise in resistance-trained men and women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 33(1), 1-7. PMID: 30431534
  53. Lockie, R.G., Dawes, J.J., and Jones, M.T. (2018) Comparison of lower-body power, sprint acceleration, and change-of-direction speed between NCAA Division I and II male soccer players. The Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning 26(7), 47-53.
  54. Askow, A.T., Stone, J.D., Arndts, D.A., King, A.C., Goto, S., Hannon, J.P., Garrison, J.C., Bothwell, J.M., Esposito, P.E., Jagim, A.R., Jones, M.T., Jennings, W., and Oliver, J.M. (2018) Validity and reliability of a commercially-available velocity and power testing device. Sports 6(170), 1-8. PMID: 30544687
  55. Fields, J.B., Merrigan, J.J., White, J.B., and Jones, M.T. (2018) Body composition variables by sport and sport-position in elite collegiate athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 32(11), 3153-3159. PMID: 30239454
  56. Merrigan, J.J., White, J.B., Hu, Y.E, Stone, J.D., Oliver, J.M., and Jones, M.T. (2018) Differences in elbow extensor muscle characteristics between resistance-trained men and women. European Journal of Applied Physiology 118, 2359-2366. PMID: 30097710
  57. Merrigan, J.J., Gallo, S., Fields, J.B., and Jones, M.T.  (2018) Foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedence, air displacement plethysmography, and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in resistance-trained men and women. International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4), 1145-1155. 
  58. Fields, J.B., Metoyer, C.J., Casey, J.C., Esco, M.R., Jagim, A.R., and Jones, M.T. (2018) Comparison of body composition variables across a large group of NCAA women athletes from six competitive sports. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 32(9), 2452-2457. PMID: 29189580
  59. Fields, J.B., Merrigan, J.J., White, J.B., and Jones, M.T. (2018) Seasonal and longitudinal changes in body composition by sport-position in NCAA division I basketball athletes. Sports 6(85), 1-7. PMID: 30135356
  60. Jagim, A.R., Camic, C.L., Kisiolek, J., Luedke, J.L., Erickson, J., Jones, M.T., and Oliver, J.M. (2018) Accuracy of resting metabolic rate prediction equations in athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 32(7), 1875-1881. PMID: 28682934
  61. Lockie, R.G., Dawes, J.J., and Jones, M.T. (2018) Relationships between linear speed and lower-body power with change-of-direction speed in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and II women soccer athletes. Sports 6, 30, 1-12. PMID: 29910334
  62. Jagim, A.R., Dominy, T.A., Camic, C.L., Wright, G., Doberstein, S., Jones, M.T., and Oliver, J.M. (2018) Acute effects of the elevation training mask on strength performance in recreational weight lifters.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 32(2), 482-489. PMID: 29084093