PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- LSU sophomore middle distance runner Jamaal James wrapped up the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championships on Sunday by winning a bonze medal with a third-place finish in the 800-meter run at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
James earned his best career finish at the annual Trinidad and Tobago national championships as he crossed the finish line in 1 minute, 49.13 seconds in the final.
While the Trincity native earned the top-three finish necessary to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 2008 Olympic Games later this summer, he is still not slated to make the trip to Beijing, China, as he has yet to achieve the Olympic “A” qualifying standard of 1:46.00. James’ seasonal best time of 1:47.91 was set in the 800-meter final at the SEC Championships on May 18.
He has until July 23 to meet the Olympic standard and punch his ticket to Beijing as the period in which an athlete has to record a qualifying mark in an individual event will end at that time.
James hopes to join LSU seniors Kelly Baptiste and Richard Thompson as part of the contingent from Trinidad and Tobago making the trip to Beijing as the duo qualified for the Olympic Games on Saturday with Baptiste winning gold and Thompson winning silver in the 100-meter dash.
The 800-meter field at this year’s Sagicor National Open Championships did not have the benefit of running a preliminary round as the number of competitors in attendance only allowed for a one section final to be contested on Sunday afternoon. Meet officials made the decision to advance all athletes into the 800-meter final prior to the start of the preliminary races on Friday.