Kirani James: We are trying to make a positive influence

By Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, August 11, 2011 – World leader in the 400 metres Grenadian Kirani James said he is not pressured into producing results at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea later this month.

Fresh from his world leading time and personal best of 44.61 seconds in the 400m in London last Friday, James said that all the competitors for the one-lap event have a chance of taking the podium. He said it’s unfair for people to say that he is the favourite.

“I don’t see myself as the man to beat because I only ran against these guys once and they have been running as professionals for a while and they have done that before at World Championships and Olympics,” he said from his training base in Alabama.

“I think that’s a huge disrespect to all the competitors out there. They are just as good and capable as well.”

He is cognisant that fitness and mental preparation are important factors in competing at the highest level.

“My main focus now is just to stay in shape and remain positive. Anyone competing in the World Championships should be able to handle three rounds,” he said.

However, the 18 year-old quarter-miler confirmed his readiness for the championships with a clear domination over his competitors at the London Diamond League on August 5. He said he was never bothered about the star-studded field which included the then world leader and compatriot Rondell Bartholomew.

“With Rondell in the race this made me more comfortable since he was the world leader and we were both representing Grenada. It was also an honour competing against these great athletes.”

James, who is well mannered and disciplined, is known for embracing all his competitors at the end of each race. “I have always learnt to show respect to the competitors and I always do that.”

Grenada has never won a medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics though Alleyne Francique is a two-time IAAF World Indoor 400m champion. James is hoping to be among the first to stand on the winners’ podium on August 30.

He is appealing for support from his fellow Grenadians, not only for the World Championships but also for future meets.

“We need all the support we can get but not just Rondell and I but all those who will be representing Grenada,” he said. “We want the younger ones to feel motivated since we are just paving the way for the others to come through. We are trying to make a positive influence.”

James, who turns 19 on September 1, could be the youngest medallist in the 400m at the World Championships.

Jeremy Wariner of the United States was only 21 when he won the gold medal at the World Championships in Helsinki in 2005. Only Mike Franks also of the United States and Thomas Schonlebe of Germany (19 and 18 respectively) were finalists as teenagers in the 1983 World Championships.

James is the third Grenadian to run sub-45 after Francique (44.47 PB) and Bartholomew (44.65 PB).