44INAROW
04-19-2006, 08:35 AM
The Victoria Advocate - http://TheVictoriaAdvocate.com
Cuero's James signs track offer with UH
MIKE FORMAN
Advocate Sports Writer
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Cuero's Brandon James was concerned about the hamstring in his right leg he tweaked while long jumping in the fall so he wasn't running at full speed when he competed in the 200-meter dash at the District 26-3A meet.
"I was really just cruising," James said. "I did not want to push it too hard."
James still won the event in a time of 21.93 seconds, which was .34 seconds slower than this year's area-best time he ran at the Sweeny meet last month, .68 seconds slower than his winning time at last year's state meet, and .89 seconds slower than his best time in the event.
James, who also ran the anchor legs on Cuero's winning 400 and 800 relay teams at the district meet, will have an opportunity to run faster when he competes at the Region IV-3A meet in Kingsville.
James is hoping to end his high school career at the state meet, but he's also looking forward to running on the college level after signing a letter-of-intent to accept a track and field scholarship at the University of Houston.
"I talked to them and they came for a house visit," said James, who attended high school in Houston his freshman and sophomore years. "But I'd been thinking about going there already. My friend from (Westside) high school Tremaine Smith goes there and has run a 20.6 in the 200. That's where I want to be."
James is looking forward to working with Houston coach Leroy Burrell, a former world-record holder in the 100.
"My heart is in the 100," said James, who ran a hand-timed 10.19 seconds in the 100 last year and had a wind-aided 10.43 at last year's Texas Relays. "I've really looked up to Leroy Burrell. He's been there and done that. There's nothing like being right there with the person I want to go work with."
James had a hand in all of the 50 points the Gobblers scored at the state meet to win last year's Class 3A team title and Cuero coach Victor Mathis has been pleased with how hard James has worked this season.
"That's probably the most impressive thing that I've seen about him," Mathis said. "He works hard and he never loafs. He's also a polite kid. He works by action. He's made the other kids run faster. He forces them to say, 'How can I keep up with this guy.' He leads by example."
Mathis believes James, who was recruited by a number of schools, made a wise choice in Houston.
"He has some friends there he ran track with and his dad lives there," Mathis said. "J.T Rudd (from Cuero) will be playing football there and they'll both be in the athletic dorm. He'll be around people he knows and that will be good for him."
James is likely to continue to run the 100 and 200 at Houston, but he has no qualms about trying other events.
"I love any event in track," James said.
Cuero's James signs track offer with UH
MIKE FORMAN
Advocate Sports Writer
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Cuero's Brandon James was concerned about the hamstring in his right leg he tweaked while long jumping in the fall so he wasn't running at full speed when he competed in the 200-meter dash at the District 26-3A meet.
"I was really just cruising," James said. "I did not want to push it too hard."
James still won the event in a time of 21.93 seconds, which was .34 seconds slower than this year's area-best time he ran at the Sweeny meet last month, .68 seconds slower than his winning time at last year's state meet, and .89 seconds slower than his best time in the event.
James, who also ran the anchor legs on Cuero's winning 400 and 800 relay teams at the district meet, will have an opportunity to run faster when he competes at the Region IV-3A meet in Kingsville.
James is hoping to end his high school career at the state meet, but he's also looking forward to running on the college level after signing a letter-of-intent to accept a track and field scholarship at the University of Houston.
"I talked to them and they came for a house visit," said James, who attended high school in Houston his freshman and sophomore years. "But I'd been thinking about going there already. My friend from (Westside) high school Tremaine Smith goes there and has run a 20.6 in the 200. That's where I want to be."
James is looking forward to working with Houston coach Leroy Burrell, a former world-record holder in the 100.
"My heart is in the 100," said James, who ran a hand-timed 10.19 seconds in the 100 last year and had a wind-aided 10.43 at last year's Texas Relays. "I've really looked up to Leroy Burrell. He's been there and done that. There's nothing like being right there with the person I want to go work with."
James had a hand in all of the 50 points the Gobblers scored at the state meet to win last year's Class 3A team title and Cuero coach Victor Mathis has been pleased with how hard James has worked this season.
"That's probably the most impressive thing that I've seen about him," Mathis said. "He works hard and he never loafs. He's also a polite kid. He works by action. He's made the other kids run faster. He forces them to say, 'How can I keep up with this guy.' He leads by example."
Mathis believes James, who was recruited by a number of schools, made a wise choice in Houston.
"He has some friends there he ran track with and his dad lives there," Mathis said. "J.T Rudd (from Cuero) will be playing football there and they'll both be in the athletic dorm. He'll be around people he knows and that will be good for him."
James is likely to continue to run the 100 and 200 at Houston, but he has no qualms about trying other events.
"I love any event in track," James said.