James Walker (hurdler)

James Walker
Personal information
Born	October 1957 (age 67); Atlanta, Georgia
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing the United States
Pan American Games
Olympic Boycott Games

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

James Walker lives in Madison, Alabama.

Achievements

Won the gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1979 in the 400 metre hurdles^[3]
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^[4]
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^[5]
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.^[6]

References

^ "Famous Alabama sports figures, The Birmingham News". Archived from the original on 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
^ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
^ New York Times, July 9, 1979
^ Caribbean Net News: Trinidad’s Clement breaks 26-year-old 400m hurdles mark at SEC Championships
^ NCAA Div. I Outdoor Track champions, Hickoksports.com Archived 2002-02-23 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
^ USA Track & Field, List of 400 meter hurdles champions Archived 2008-06-13 at the Wayback Machine

[1] "Famous Alabama sports figures, The Birmingham News". Archived from the original on 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2007-10-08.

[2] Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.

[3] New York Times, July 9, 1979

[4] Caribbean Net News: Trinidad’s Clement breaks 26-year-old 400m hurdles mark at SEC Championships

[5] NCAA Div. I Outdoor Track champions, Hickoksports.com Archived 2002-02-23 at the Library of Congress Web Archives

[6] USA Track & Field, List of 400 meter hurdles champions Archived 2008-06-13 at the Wayback Machine

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v t e US National Championship winners in men's 400 m/440 yd hurdles
1914–1979 Amateur Athletic Union	1914–15: Bill Meanix 1916: Walter Hummel 1917: Floyd Smart 1918: Donald Hause 1919: Floyd Smart 1920: Frank Loomis 1921: August Desch 1922: Joseph Hall 1923: Ivan Riley 1924–26: Morgan Taylor 1927: Johnny Gibson 1928: Morgan Taylor 1929: Gordon Allott 1930: Dick Pomeroy 1931: Victor Burke 1932: Joe Healey 1933–34: Glenn Hardin 1935: Tom Moore 1936: Glenn Hardin 1937–38: Jack Patterson 1939: Roy Cochran 1940: Carl McBain 1941: Arky Erwin 1942: Walter Smith 1943–46: Arky Erwin 1947: Walter Smith 1948: Roy Cochran 1949–52: Charles Moore 1953–55: Josh Culbreath 1956–58: Glenn Davis 1959: Dick Howard 1960: Glenn Davis 1961: Cliff Cushman 1962: Willie Atterberry 1963: Rex Cawley 1964: Billy Hardin 1965: Rex Cawley 1966: Jim Miller 1967–68: Ron Whitney 1969–71: Ralph Mann 1972: Dick Bruggeman 1973–74: Jim Bolding 1975: Ralph Mann 1976: Tom Andrews 1977: Edwin Moses 1978: James Walker 1979: Edwin Moses
1980–1992 The Athletics Congress	1980: David Lee 1981: Edwin Moses 1982: David Patrick 1983: Edwin Moses 1984: David Patrick 1985: Andre Phillips 1986: Danny Harris 1987: Edwin Moses 1988: Kevin Henderson 1989–90: David Patrick 1991: Danny Harris 1992: Kevin Young
1993–present USA Track & Field	1993: Kevin Young 1994–95: Derrick Adkins 1996–98: Bryan Bronson 1999–2001: Angelo Taylor 2002: James Carter 2003: Eric Thomas 2004: James Carter 2005–06: Kerron Clement 2007: James Carter 2008–10: Bershawn Jackson 2011: Jeshua Anderson 2012–13: Michael Tinsley 2014: Johnny Dutch 2015: Bershawn Jackson 2016: Kerron Clement 2017: Eric Futch 2018: Kenny Selmon 2019: Rai Benjamin 2021^{2020 OT}: Rai Benjamin 2022-23: Rai Benjamin
Notes	440 yd hurdles 1914–27, 1929–31, 1953–55, 1957–58, 1961–63, 1965–67, 1969–71 and 1973; 400 m hurdles otherwise. The 1920, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event. 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.