LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring World and Olympic 400m track and field
champion Kirani James upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by the Grenada Boys Secondary School Alumni Association of
New York, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those esteemed individuals who distinguish themselves through
outstanding achievements in worldwide athletic competition; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor World and
Olympic 400m track and field champion Kirani James upon the occasion of
his designation for special recognition by the Grenada Boys Secondary
School Alumni Association of New York, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, This special event is the Grenada Boys Secondary School Alum-
ni Association of New York, Inc.'s 21st Annual Scholarship Awards Cere-
mony; the celebration will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at
Antun's in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Born in the village of Gouyave, St. John on the island of
Grenada, Kirani James is a Grenadian sprinter who specializes in the 200
and 400 meters; he is the reigning World and Olympic 400m champion; and
WHEREAS, At a young age, Kirani James ran the fastest 400m times ever
by a 14- and 15-year-old; he won a series of gold medals at the CARIFTA
Games, the Commonwealth Youth Games, and rose on the international stage
with 400m silver medals at the 2007 World Youth and 2008 World Junior
Championships; and
WHEREAS, Kirani James became the first athlete to run a 200/400 double
at the 2009 World Youth Championships and was the 2010 World Junior
Champion; he gained an athletic scholarship at the University of Alabama
and won back-to-back NCAA Outdoor Championship titles in his first two
years; he is the third fastest of all-time indoors 44.80 seconds, and
ran a personal best of 44.36 at the 2011 IAAF Diamond League in Zurich;
and
WHEREAS, In his first ever appearance on an indoor track with the
University of Alabama, Kirani James ran 45.79 in the 400 meters, placing
first and breaking the 10 year old school record of 46.46 held by Cori
Loving; and
WHEREAS, Kirani James moved up to third on the all-time indoor lists
in February of 2011, recording 44.80 seconds to win at the SEC Indoor
Championships; after the end of the college season, he made his profes-
sional debut at the London Grand Prix Diamond League meeting and estab-
lished himself among the world's best with a personal best run of 44.61
seconds, a time which made him the fastest man that year; and
WHEREAS, At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, both
Kirani James and fellow Grenadian runner Rondell Bartholomew, made the
finals of the 400m event; Kirani James won the event in a personal best
of 44.60 seconds, becoming the youngest 400m world champion at the age
of 18; the medal is the first for Grenada in any event at the outdoor
version of the World Championships in Athletics; and
WHEREAS, Nine days later, Kirani James won the 400m at the 2011 IAAF
Diamond League in Zurich with a new personal best of 44.36 seconds; and
WHEREAS, At the London 2012 Olympics, Kirani James won the 400m semi-
final 2, achieving a season best of 44.59 seconds; on August 6, 2012, he
won the 400m Olympic gold in a time of 43.94, a national record, earning
Grenada its first Olympic medal; he was the first non-US runner to break
the 44-second mark; he is currently ranked first in the world in the
Men's 400 meters; and
WHEREAS, A gifted athlete, Kirani James has become a role model in
society as well as the sport of track and field; his character and

achievements stand as a sterling example and inspiration to all who
would aspire to success; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor World and Olympic 400m track and field champion Kirani James upon
the occasion of his designation for special recognition; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kirani James.