Hall of Fame Sprinter G. Larry James Dies

G. Larry James, a two-time medalist at the 1968 Olympics, died Thursday of cancer in Smithville, N.J. It was his 61st birthday.

James won the silver medal in the 400 meters in 43.97 seconds at the '68 Games in Mexico, bettering the existing world record but placing him second behind teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Lee Evans (43.86). James added a gold medal on the third leg of the U.S. 4x400 relay team, which set a world record of 2:56.16 seconds that stood until 1992.

James had set the 400 world record at the 1968 Olympic Trials. His time of 44.1 seconds again was second to Evans's 44.0, but that mark was disallowed by the IAAF because Evans wore illegal brush spike shoes.

James also won two gold medals at the 1970 World University Games, winning the 400 hurdles and running the anchor leg on Team USA's 4x400 relay team (3:03.33).

As a collegian at Villanova under Hall of Fame coach Jumbo Elliott, James won the NCAA 440 yard title in 1970 and NCAA indoor crowns at that distance in 1968, 1969 and 1970. At the 1968 Penn Relays, his anchor leg of 43.9 was the fastest ever in the history of the relay carnival and sparked Villanova's scintillating comeback victory over Rice University. It was in this race that James earned his nickname "The Mighty Burner."

James was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003.

By Amy Shipley  |  November 7, 2008; 5:07 PM ET  | Category:  Track and Field
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