Richard James named to Jamaican national team

Richard James (Portland, Jamaica), who just completed his sophomore year and is one of the finest competitors for Long Island's track and field team, was named to the Jamaican National Under-25 squad.

James will compete for his native island in the 400 meter dash, an event he dominated this year in the Northeast Conference. His first meet will be at the NACAC (North American/Central American/Caribbean) Games from August 9-11 in San Antonio, TX. In June 2004, James will attempt to qualify for the Jamaican Olympic Team.

A transfer from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, TX, James recorded a time of 46.81 at 400 meters in the Jamaican National Trials last June. A month earlier, he registered a school-record time of 45.96 in the same event at IC4A's.

In his first year in downtown Brooklyn, James earned four conference championships, including 400 meter indoor and outdoor titles, a 200 meter outdoor crown and was a member of the Blackbirds' 4x100 meter outdoor team. He became the first man in NEC history to be named Most Outstanding Track Performer for both the indoor and outdoor meets in the same year.

James also became the first LIU male athlete to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 400 meter dash.