Richard James competes at NCAA Track & Field Championships

Sophomore Richard James (Portland, Jamaica) capped his exceptional debut season today by competing in a 400-meter-dash preliminary race at the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge, LA.

James finished 20th overall with a time of 47.44 seconds. Only the four preliminary race winners and the next five fastest times advance to the final.

Today's race concluded one of the best individual track and field seasons in Blackbirds history. James qualified for the NCAA's by virtue of running a school-best 45.96 seconds at the IC4A Championships two weeks ago. In that same meet, he helped the 4x100 meter relay squad post a school-record time of 40.27 seconds.

James also excelled at the Northeast Conference Championships, becoming the first man in league history to be named Most Outstanding Track Performer for both the indoor and outdoor meets in the same year.

James captured both indoor and outdoor 400 meter dash titles, the 200 meter dash outdoor crown and paced the 4x100 meter outdoor relay squad to victory.