James is one of our head Coopah coaches, as well as a senior lecturer and Performance advisor for Athletics at Cardiff Metropolitan University. A former International middle-distance runner, who was a finalist at World, European and Commonwealth championships. To add to this, a multiple British champion and sub 4 minute miler both indoors and outdoors. Not done with running into his 40’s, he’s a 4 World masters champion & recent World masters record breaker.
In 2008, James started coaching through his first athlete, David Bishop, who would go on in 2014 to run for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and run a 3:56 Mile and 3:37 for 1500m. Since then successes have ranged from distances at and between 800m to 50km, with 15 Great British Internationals and taking various National titles and records.
With recent successes including Hannah Iriwn’s 71:03 Northern Ireland Half marathon record. These performances led to being named 2017 BMC coach of year and Welsh Athletics awards in 2018 and 2020. A Great Britain team staff for 2020 Olympics, 2022 World championships, 2022 Commonwealth Games, World and European indoors, World Juniors, European U20’s and European U23’s Championships. As well as currently completing his Doctorate in Sport Coaching.