Curtis James

Curtis Cury Reginald James James (born July 31, 1992 in District of Columbia) is a current MT&FA AT&T Cup Track & Field athlete who runs the #72 Coca-Cola Reebok Production Jersey co-owned by Smoke Wilson, operated by Reebok Racing. Curtis is the four-time defending AT&T Kid Run Professional Series Champion.

MT&FA 100m & 200m All-Star Race 8, and 8 Winner
2006 Reebok National Winner

2006 Reebok National at the Gabriel DuVal High School Winner / 2008 SanYo 100/200m at the Dade County Gully Winner

Awards = 1999 AT&T KRPS Rookie of the Year

AT&T_KRPS_Team = 72 - Reebok Racing 100/200m Team

Previous_Year = 2007

Prev_KRPS_Pos = 1st

Best_KRPS_Pos = 1st - 2006, 2007

KRPS_Wins = 47

KRPS_Top_Fives = 43

KRPS_Lane 1 Starting = 14

First_KRPS_Race = 1999 Dick's Sporting Goods 200m (Hyattsville)

First_KRPS_Win = 2000 Reebok 200m (Lanham)

Last_KRPS_Win = 2008 Dade County Reebok Professionals Center (Georgia)

Early career

Curtis James began his career running in community sponsored events. He accumulated over 7 wins, 4 top-three finishes, two championships, and received Rookie of the Year honors in all three leagues (100m/200m/400m).

In 1998, James joined the AT&T Kid Run Semi-Profesional Series (KRSPS) circuit, finishing second in the season while picking up Rookie of the Year honors. During this time, James also began racing in the AT&T Kid Run Professional Series, Running in three events. In 1999, James continued to run in both the Semi-Professional and the Professional Series, winning twice and finishing third in the Semi-Professional point race. By 2000, James became a Semi-Professional Series runner with Omega T/F, finished 2nd in the points standings and first in the Rookie of the Year standings. He won his only Semi-Professional Series race in 2001 at the Nike 200m at Lewisdale Elementary in his 10th series event.

During the 2000 Season, James was left in a tight spot while racing in the AT&T Semi-Professional Series. Omega T/F, which had fielded James's Jerseys for much of his career, was in a hole after losing their sponsor, Scholastic to Nike Sports. During the runner's meeting before the Semi-Professional Series race at Davis Middle School, James asked fellow Professional Series runner Simon Peters for advice. Peters kept in touch with James after the incident, and a few days later, Reebok Racing, on Peter's recommendation, offered him a runner development deal with the potential of advancing in 2001.

James pre-AT&T Kid Run Professional Series career is also noted for a crash that occurred at Hyattsville when the laces on his shoe came loose heading into turn one. With him running almost at full-speed, James triped, clipping 4 runners and having a head-on into the rubberized track. Surprisingly James got up from the track uninjured, puting up his fists in excitement.

AT&T Kid Run Professional series career

Some of Curtis James's notable accomplishments throughout his career include: In his rookie year he became the first rookie in the series to sweep both races at a track when he won both races at Lewisdale Elementary. He became the first rookie ever to lead in the point standings (and to date the only rookie to do so). He is the only runner to finish in the top five in the standings in his first five full seasons. He has never finished below fifth in the final points standings and finished second twice (in 2000 and 2001) and won the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006 AT&T Kid Run Professional Series championships. Since his rookie season James ranks second among all active runners with an average of 4.5 wins a season (behind Simon Peters 5.0) and second in average top 5 finishes a season with 7.1 (behind Simon Peters's 7.3). In 2006, James became the only runner to win the Dollar General 200m, 100m Sprint at DuVal High School, Reebok 100/200m Nationals and the AT&T Kid Run Professional Series Championship all in the same year. He is the only runner to win three Championship's in a row. He also holds the record at DuVal High School with four straight wins and five total point race wins at the track. He also still currently holds the 200m speed record at the school with a 21.38. In 2007 he tied a Series record by winning four straight races, a feat last accomplished by his teammate Simon Peters in 1999.

2001 Season

James began racing in the Professional series in 2001. He won the Lane 1 selection at the 2001 AT&T Kid Run Series All-Star and ended up finishing the race in 2nd place with a time of 22.14. His rookie season would only improve from there, winning three races, finishing in the top-5 9 times, and having an average finish of 3.2 for the year. He Also won the 'Rookie of the Year' award.

2002 Season

For his 2002 running campaign, James had three points-race victories: first winning the Coca- Cola 200m at DuVal High School and later sweeping both races at Lewisdale Elementary. His 2002 Professional season statistics include 8 top-five finishes and only 2 Last place finishes, with an average finishing position of 2.7. James finished the season first in the points standings. James got his first and second wins in back to back weekends by winning the The Nike Performance Run on August 2nd and the Coca-Cola 200m on August 13, both at Lewisdale Elementary. Runners in The Nike Performance Run (now known as the AT&T Kid Run Professional Series All-Star) do not earn points toward the championship.

2003 Season

In 2003, James started on a good note in weeks one, two and three he got wins. However, he was almost taken out of the season when a fellow runner got tangled up with another runner in lane 6 forcing James to jump over them nearly landing sideways on his ankle. James bounced back from that adding a week five win at the Coca-Cola 100m at Lewisdale Elementary to his resume. Subsequent victories at the Coca-Cola 200m and the Nike 400m helped solidify his place in the standings, with second place 92 points back. Towards the end of the regular season However, poor finishes at South East, D.C (8th) and DuVal High (6th) nearly sank his chances to win the Series Title. James eneded up winning the 2003 Title by a mere 12 points.

2004 Season

In 2004, James stayed in the top five in the points standings all year, winning at Hyattsville, Gabriel DuVal Senior HIgh School, Davis Middle School, and then again at Lewisdale Elementary. While he only won 5 races, he was consistent enough to win the title. Beating out competitor, mentor and teammate Simon Peters by 2 points. James 2004 Series season statistics include 6 top-5 finishes with an average finishing position of 2.0, no DNF's and a fastest 200m time of 21.54. After the 2004 Season concluded James was injured when practicing on the road. He was hit by a car which injured his hip, he was sit out for the entire 2005 season. This put a major blow on his drive for 4 championships in a row.

2006 Season

The 2006 Season would begin with a series of questions. Can Curtis compete at the professional level? Does he still have the drive to Win races and championships? This was all answered. 7 Wins in 13 Races. Wins at Lewisdale, DuVal (2), and Davis (2), Roosevelt, Hyattsvile, and at Baker Middle in Baltimore helped him secure is 4th Championship. The season concluded on a very sad note for his fans, James hinted to retirement. After Re-location to Georgia he decided to join the safety department of Reebok. With many of his fellow racers wanting him to race again James decided to help them out as a Speed Analyst (Someone who helps you to get faster as well as make smarter decisions during a short race event). He later went on to join Heritage High School's Cross Country team as their manager.

2007 Season

The 2007 Season marked the end of a career, a 11 year run which consisted of 4 Championships, 47 Wins, 23 Top-Fives, 5 Finishes of 5th or Worst and a Earned spot in the Hall-Of-Fame.

2008

In 2008 James was needed to sub for Ronaldo Pittman who injured his leg during a practice run the day before. James won the 200m Event making it his 32nd 200m win.

Other racing

James Participated in anything that went fast. This was another outlet of his passion for speed. Legends Car racing [http://www.600racing.com |600 Inc] is a proving ground for potential future race drivers. Curtis will participate in events at Atlanta Motorspeedway and Lanier. Look for more updates in the coming months.

Curtis Incorporated

James also has a Simulation racing Team called Curtis Incorporated which went on to win 2 Championships. This team was started in 2006 after his last team went defunct. His Current Sponsor sits as DirecTv

Public Speaking

Curtis still publicly speaks and holds events today, many of them out of state. He talks about what it takes to be a champion, as well as doing speaches for the many charities he supports. Through all this he still finds time to be with his Cross Country team which he manages during the weekdays.

Curtis James

Curtis James currently attends [Heritage High School (Conyers,Georgia)

He is an avid New England Patriots and Jeff Gordon fan as they are his heros. Curtis appeared on the Sports Stars of Tomorrow (Sports South) show in 2007 which aired May 5th.

James host a weekly radio show, "Sim Racing Now", on XM Satellite Radio. Smoke Wilson co-Host's the show as well, they included famous sim racers such as Matt Leach, Chris Darling, and Connor Mackenzie.

'Not Fast Enough' The Racing Life of Curtis James (Book)

In 2009 'Not Fast Enough' will premiere at all major book stores, from borders to Barnes & Noble. James wanted to give some of the small time runners advice, encouragement, and support. The best place to put this was in this book.

Career AT&T Kid Run Semi-Professional/Professional Statistics

(Data as of October 2, 2008) [ [http://www.Gatfxc.com] ]

References

* [http://www.myspace.com/james_fan_1 |Curtis Incorporated]

* [http://www.GATFXC.COM |GATFXC]

Sponsors

* [http://www.intel.com|Intel]

* [http://www.DirecTv.com |DirecTv]

* [http://www.thlforums.com |THLForums]

AT&T Kid Run Professional Series