James Coleman, a standout track athlete at Chapel Hill High School, described breaking two school records as “a blessing” after his remarkable performances at various competitions during the 2023-2024 indoor track season.
Coleman’s journey began on December 9 at the Liberty Flames High School Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he broke the school records in both the 55-meter hurdles and the 300-meter dash with times of 7.41 seconds and 35.59 seconds respectively.
Reflecting on his achievement, Coleman expressed gratitude for his development over the past four years. “It felt really successful to see all of this come to fruition,” he said.
The momentum didn’t stop there for Coleman. Just four weeks later, at the Walter Bass High School Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia, he shaved off .01 seconds from his 55-meter hurdles time of 7.40 seconds.
His remarkable run continued at the state championship in Winston-Salem, on February 9, where he broke his own record once again, this time by 0.03 seconds, finishing with a final time of 7.37 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles.
Coleman’s dedication and perseverance were evident throughout his high school career, particularly as he overcame a significant hip injury that sidelined him for most of his 10th-grade year. “Ninety percent of my season was cut out until my conference championship,” Coleman recalled of his sophomore season.
Despite the setback, Coleman’s hard work paid off, leading him to commit to North Carolina State University for track and field. Reflecting on this accomplishment, Coleman called it “a dream come true.”
“I never really expected to go to the ACC,” Coleman said. Coleman, however, was extended an offer by assistant coach Ruben McCoy, who oversees sprinting, hurdling and relays for the Wolfpack. “[McCoy] gave me a shot and an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Coleman said.
With his final time of 7.37 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles, Coleman was ranked in the top 10 nationally and tied for second in the state. Chapel Hill High School’s athletic director, Lewis Newman, praised Coleman’s achievement, calling him an “integral part” of the track team.
“That’s just the icing on the cake for our school,” Newman said. “He certainly earned it and deserved it all.”
Assistant track coach Dylan Wood also commended Coleman’s growth, noting that Coleman’s performance was instrumental in breaking two school records and qualifying for the state championship in the men’s 4×4 relay.
“He’s always been one of our faster kids, but getting him to execute at a high level repeatedly was something that has kind of been hit or miss,” Wood said. “We’re finally getting to the point where he’s running fast at every meet.”
At the indoor track state championship meet, Chapel Hill High School set a total of six records, with Coleman accounting for two of them. Other notable performances included sophomore Aleah Weight breaking the 55-meter dash record, as well as the triple jump. Sophomore Paige Thomas also tied the indoor track high jump record, clearing five feet exactly.
With the indoor track season over, Coleman now has set his sights on the outdoor track season ahead.
“I have a feeling that he’s going to run faster,” Wood said.
