James Preston (runner)

Last updated

James Preston
Personal information
NationalityNew Zealand
Born (1997-05-08) 8 May 1997 (age 27)
Sport
Sport Athletics
Event(s)800m, 1500m
Achievements and titles
Personal bests400m: 47.87 (Auckland, 2022)
800m: 1:44.04 (Pfungstadt, 2024) NR
1500m: 3:45.50 (Christchurch, 2021)

James Preston (born 8 May 1997) is a track and field athlete from New Zealand. He is a multiple time national champion over 800 metres and the current New Zealand record holder. [1]

Contents

Early and personal life

From Karori, he runs for Wellington Scottish Athletics Club. [2] In 2023, Preston combined his running with a full-time work as an engineer in Wellington. [3]

Career

Preston had a breakthrough result as an 18 year-old when he won the 800m at the Porritt Classic in New Zealand in February 2016, beating New Zealand champions Brad Mathas and Hamish Carson, and breaking his personal best by three seconds. [4]

In March 2022, Preston won his second New Zealand national title over 800 metres. [5] In July 2022, he became the third fastest 800m New Zealand athlete in history, behind Peter Snell and John Walker, when he ran 1:45.30 in Germany. [6]

In February 2023, Preston won the 800m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Meet in Melbourne in a world-leading time. [7] A few weeks later he claimed this third national 800m title. [8] At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he did not qualify for the semi-finals of the 800m. [9]

He ran a national record indoor time of 1:47.59 in the 800 metres at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. [10]

At the 2024 New Zealand Track & Field Championships Preston ran 1:44.87 to become the second fastest New Zealander ever over the distance behind Peter Snell and ahead of John Walker. [11] On 25 May of that year, in Pfungstadt, Germany, Preston broke Snell's 62-year-old New Zealand national record in the 800m, the oldest athletics record in New Zealand [12] [13] and one of the oldest in the world. [14]

He competed in the 800 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in August 2024. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ "J.Preston". World Athletics.
  2. ↑ Neill, Frank (2 March 2023). "Top result by Karori's James Preston". Independent Herald.
  3. ↑ Hinton, Marc (18 April 2023). "James Preston shakes off 2022 disappointment with world champs 800m spot all-but secured". i.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Landells, Steve (16 February 2016). "Athletics: Preston stars with breakthrough 800 at Porritt". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Hinton, Marc (1 March 2023). "Chasing greatness: James Preston eyes special territory in pursuit of 800m goals". istuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Norquay, Kevin (9 July 2022). "Meet James Preston, the 800m runner with Peter Snell and John Walker in his sights" . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "James Preston leads home Kiwi 1-2 at Melbourne meet". Nzsportswire.com. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  8. ↑ Hinton, Marc (23 March 2023). "Intense rivalry fuels Kiwi 800m runner Brad Mathas ahead of Brisbane showdown". istiff.nz. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Men's 800m Results: World Athletics Championships 2023". Watch Athletics. 23 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Men's 800m Results - World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024". Watch Athletics. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Francesca (15 March 2024). "King James produces epic 800m performance". Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Athletics: Sir Peter Snell's NZ 800m record broken in Germany". RNZ. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  13. ↑ ZB, Newstalk (27 May 2024). "Former Olympic runner on James Preston beating Sir Peter Snell's 800-metre record". ZB. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Track & Field: Oldest national records". 28 January 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Men's 800m Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
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