James Preston (runner)
{{Short description|New Zealand athlete (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = James Preston
| birth_name =
| image =
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| nationality = New Zealand
| sport = Athletics
| event = 800m, 1500m
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|5|8|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| pb = 400m: 47.87 (Auckland, 2022)
800m: 1:44.04 (Pfungstadt, 2024) {{AthAbbr|NR|New Zealand}}
1500m: 3:45.50 (Christchurch, 2021)
}}
James Preston (born 8 May 1997) is a track and field athlete from New Zealand. He is a multiple time national champion over 800 metres and the current New Zealand record holder.{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/new-zealand/james-preston-14672050|title=J.Preston|website=World Athletics}}
Early and personal life
From Karori, he runs for Wellington Scottish Athletics Club.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/wsn11/docs/2_march_independent_herald_s/s/20005927|title= Top result by Karori’s James Preston|date=2 March 2023|website=Independent Herald|first=Frank |last=Neill}} In 2023, Preston combined his running with a full-time work as an engineer in Wellington.{{cite web|url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300855305/james-preston-shakes-off-2022-disappointment-with-world-champs-800m-spot-allbut-secured|website=i.stuff.co.nz|accessdate=16 August 2023|title= James Preston shakes off 2022 disappointment with world champs 800m spot all-but secured|first=Marc|last=Hinton|date=18 April 2023}}
Career
Preston had a breakthrough result as an 18 year-old when he won the 800m at the Porritt Classic in New Zealand in February 2016, beating New Zealand champions Brad Mathas and Hamish Carson, and breaking his personal best by three seconds.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/athletics-preston-stars-with-breakthrough-800-at-porritt/JYGKXR5CUOQVNEIGH5TZV45RQQ/|website=New Zealand Herald|title= Athletics: Preston stars with breakthrough 800 at Porritt|first=Steve|last= Landells|date=16 February 2016|accessdate=16 August 2023}}
In March 2022, Preston won his second New Zealand national title over 800 metres.{{cite web|url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300818502/chasing-greatness-james-preston-eyes-special-territory-in-pursuit-of-800m-goals|website=istuff.co.nz|accessdate=16 August 2023|title= Chasing greatness: James Preston eyes special territory in pursuit of 800m goals|first=Marc|last=Hinton|date=1 March 2023}}
In July 2022, he became the third fastest 800m New Zealand athlete in history, behind Peter Snell and John Walker, when he ran 1:45.30 in Germany.{{cite web|url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300632232/meet-james-preston-the-800m-runner-with-peter-snell-and-john-walker-in-his-sights|title= Meet James Preston, the 800m runner with Peter Snell and John Walker in his sights|first=Kevin|last=Norquay|date=9 July 2022|accessdate=16 August 2023}}
In February 2023, Preston won the 800m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Meet in Melbourne in a world-leading time.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzsportswire.com/james-preston-leads-home-kiwi-1-2-at-melbourne-meet/|title=James Preston leads home Kiwi 1-2 at Melbourne meet
|date=24 February 2023|accessdate=17 August 2023|website=Nzsportswire.com}} A few weeks later he claimed this third national 800m title.{{cite web|url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300837260/intense-rivalry-fuels-kiwi-800m-runner-brad-mathas-ahead-of-brisbane-showdown|website=istiff.nz|accessdate=16 May 2023|title= Intense rivalry fuels Kiwi 800m runner Brad Mathas ahead of Brisbane showdown
|first=Marc |last= Hinton|date=23 March 2023}} At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he did not qualify for the semi-finals of the 800m.{{cite web| date=23 August 2023|url=https://www.watchathletics.com/page/4563/men-s-800m-results-world-athletics-championships-2023|website=Watch Athletics|title=Men's 800m Results: World Athletics Championships 2023}}
He ran a national record indoor time of 1:47.59 in the 800 metres at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.{{cite web|url= https://www.watchathletics.com/page/5131/men-s-800m-results-world-athletics-indoor-championships-2024 |website=Watch Athletics|accessdate=1 March 2024|title=Men's 800m Results - World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024}}
At the 2024 New Zealand Track & Field Championships Preston ran 1:44.87 to become the second fastest New Zealander ever over the distance behind Peter Snell and ahead of John Walker.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Francesca |date=2024-03-15 |title=King James produces epic 800m performance |url=https://athletics.org.nz/king-james-produces-epic-800m-performance/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Athletics New Zealand |language=en-NZ}} On 25 May of that year, in Pfungstadt, Germany, Preston broke Snell's 62-year-old New Zealand national record in the 800m, the oldest athletics record in New Zealand{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Athletics: Sir Peter Snell's NZ 800m record broken in Germany |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/517847/athletics-sir-peter-snell-s-nz-800m-record-broken-in-germany |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite web |last=ZB |first=Newstalk |date=2024-05-27 |title=Former Olympic runner on James Preston beating Sir Peter Snell's 800-metre record |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/sportstalk/audio/tony-rogers-former-olympic-runner-on-james-preston-beating-sir-peter-snells-800-metre-record/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=ZB |language=en-nz}} and one of the oldest in the world.{{cite web|url=https://etusuora.com/en/news/oldest-national-records-track-field|title=Track & Field: Oldest national records|date=28 January 2021|access-date=27 May 2024}}
He competed in the 800 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in August 2024.{{cite web|url= https://www.watchathletics.com/page/5856/men-s-800m-results-paris-olympic-games-2024-athletics|website=Watch Athletics|accessdate=8 September 2024|date=10 August 2024|title= Men's 800m Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2024 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{Footer New Zealand NC 800 m men}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Preston, James}}
Category:New Zealand male middle-distance runners
Category:Athletes from Wellington City
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic athletes for New Zealand