March 04, 2021 | Men's Track & Field
James named NAIA National Champion for second consecutive year
YANKTON, S.D. – Columbia International University (CIU) now has two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national titles and they both come by way of CIU sophomore
John Hunter James. The Irmo native took home first place in the men's pole vault at the 2021 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships on Thursday evening for the second consecutive year. James would clear 5.20 meters (17'-00¾") at nationals last year and then move to even higher heights as he reached a mark of 5.25 meters (17'-02 ¾') this time around. The mark is the highest cleared by anyone at the NAIA Indoor National Track & Field Championships since 2010.
"I am nothing but thankful to have the chance to honor God," said James. "I am so glad to have a meet with a family of guys competing against the obstacles before them and not against each other. To God be the glory," he concluded.
With his top finish, James notches NAIA All-American status for the second time in his CIU career. James is currently the only athlete from any sport in CIU history to be named an NAIA All-American.
CIU head track and field coach
Jud Brooker spoke on James' accomplishment, saying, "For John Hunter to be a back-to-back National Champion his freshman and sophomore year is incredible. He has put in tons of hard work, and I am so proud. He is putting CIU on the map at a national level."
CIU men's track and field currently sits in first place in the team standings and will be back in action at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday morning at 9AM as
Nathaniel Wilburn, and
Brandon Bacon compete in the racewalk.
