James Walker (hurdler)

{{Infobox sportsperson

|name=James Walker

|birth_date={{birth year and age|1957|10}}

|birth_place=Atlanta, Georgia

|death_date=

|death_place=

|show-medals=Yes

|medaltemplates={{MedalSport | Men's Athletics}}

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

}}

James Walker (born October 1957) is a former American hurdler. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he attended Auburn University from 1976-1980. Walker was one of "The Fabulous Four" along with teammates Harvey Glance, Willie Smith, and Tony Easley; together they set more school and conference records than any other foursome in the history of the Southeastern Conference.{{Cite web |url=http://www.al.com/south/sports2.html |title=Famous Alabama sports figures, The Birmingham News |access-date=2007-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302005936/http://www.al.com/south/sports2.html |archive-date=2008-03-02 |url-status=dead }} Walker qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but did not compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.{{cite book|last1=Caroccioli|first1=Tom|last2=Caroccioli|first2=Jerry|title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games|year=2008|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=Highland Park, IL|isbn=978-0942257403|pages=243–253}}

James Walker lives in Madison, Alabama.

Achievements

Won the gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1979 in the 400 metre hurdles[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0717FB3C5C11728DDDA00894DF405B898BF1D3 New York Times, July 9, 1979]
SEC's Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 1979
Until 2005, held the SEC record for the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 48.48 secs in 1979[http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/05/18/breaks.shtml Caribbean Net News: Trinidad’s Clement breaks 26-year-old 400m hurdles mark at SEC Championships]
In 1977, 1978, 1979 had the best time in the SEC for the 400 meter hurdles (49.58, 51.51, 48.48)
NCAA Division I champion, 400 meter hurdles, 1978 and 1979[http://www.hickoksports.com/history/ncamotr2.shtml#400mh NCAA Div. I Outdoor Track champions, Hickoksports.com] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020223060817/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/ncamotr2.shtml |date=2002-02-23 }}
In 1976, had the best time in the SEC for the 120 yard hurdles (13.7 secs).
In 1977, 1978, 1979 had the best time for the 110 meter hurdles (13.90, 14.0, 13.70 secs).
In 1978, was the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field champion in the 400 metre hurdles with a time of 49.03 seconds.[http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/m400mH.asp USA Track & Field, List of 400 meter hurdles champions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613121103/http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/m400mH.asp |date=2008-06-13 }}

References

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male hurdlers

Category:Auburn Tigers men's track and field athletes

Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)

Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients

Category:Track and field athletes from Atlanta

Category:FISU World University Games bronze medalists for the United States

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1979 Pan American Games

Category:Medalists at the 1979 Pan American Games

Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)

Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners

Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners

Category:20th-century American sportsmen