Cedar Falls sprinter James Harrington is writing the final chapter of a storied high school career this weekend at the State Track Championships in Des Moines. Harrington won four gold medals last year to help Cedar Falls to a team title, and he says that is their goal again this weekend, despite strong competition from Iowa City West and Linn-Mar.

“It’s no fun without competition, it just makes it that much more fun, and it just makes it that much more challenging. I think we are out for the challenge, and we’ll do our best and see where that puts us,” Harrington says.

Harrington set a new Drake Relays record by winning the 100 meters in 10.6 seconds last month. He says that event is his race to lose at State. “Yeah, I feel like it is, I feel like I proved myself to be one of the fastest in the state,” Harrington says. He says he has been working on his start and thinks he can improve his times by improving his start.

 

In addition to his success on the track, he has also been an all-state football and basketball player for the Tigers. He says knowing the State meet is his last high school competition, he won’t be holding anything back.

“I’m gonna give it every ounce of energy I can just knowing it’s going to be my last high school athletic event ever,” Harrington says.

Harrington has signed to run at Alabama in college.

By Jesse Gavin, KCNZ, Cedar Falls