First, the 16-year-old Wakatipu High student won gold last month in the under-18 men’s 3000 metres at the national track and field champs in Dunedin.
He’s now topped that with wins in the 3000m, 800m and 1500m, all in the senior boys’ grade, at the recent South Island secondary schools athletics champs in Nelson.
It’s a unique hat-trick never achieved before at this meet which goes back to 1973.
In the latter two races, he also notched up Southland age-group records, in the case of the 800m smashing a record held since 1989.
Having won his 3000m just hours before, James had to stave off a strong challenge from Christchurch Boys’ High’s Henry Sevier in the 800m, which propelled him to a record 1min 53.5sec despite being in the hurt locker.
The following day he won the 1500m in a Southland-record 3min 57.4sec.
"This has capped off a sensational summer for the promising talent," his Queenstown Athletics coach Neville Britton says.
"To win all three races and in exceptional times shows the quality of the young man’s strength and extreme fitness."
James next contests the New Zealand mountain running champs at Cardrona on April 26 followed by an extensive cross country season.
Meanwhile, Wakatipu High’s Finn Bell also won bronze in the U16 boys’ 800m in Nelson.
