JAMES EARNS ALL-AMERICAN STATUS AT NCAA

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, March 15, 2010 -- Freshman Kirani James of Grenada earned All-American honours to lead the No. 26 University of Alabama men’s track and field team at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday.

“I really think Kirani came to run today,” men’s track and field coach Harvey Glance said. “He only lost to the world-leading 400m sprinter and I think he represented the University of Alabama in fine fashion. We knew coming into the meet that this was going to be a very difficult race and he beat some good people today. I’m really proud of him.”

James, ranked second in the world this year, entered the finals with the fourth-fastest time from the preliminary round, 46.26. He finished second overall with a time of 45.63 — the eighth-fastest time in the world this year.

“It was fast enough to get second,” James said. “That’s good enough for me.  It’s been a long adventurous indoor season for me so I am just happy with my performance right now. When I heard 21 seconds [at 200m] I knew it was a fast start, but I thought maybe [eventual NCAA champion] Torrin Lawrence would slow down. [The outdoor season] is going to be exciting. That’s all I can tell you right now.”

James turned in the highest-ever finish for an Alabama 400-metre sprinter indoors.