James King is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 hurdler. In 1975 he won the Pan American Games

Pan American Games

The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...

 in the 400 Hurdles. He was a top level performer for many years also competing in the United States Olympic Trials (track and field)

United States Olympic Trials (track and field)

The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...

 in 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984. He was ranked in the Top 10 United States 400 meter hurdlers for ten consecutive years most of it during the Edwin Moses

Edwin Moses

Edwin Corley Moses is an American track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals and set the world record in his event four times...

 and Andre Phillips

Andre Phillips

André Lamar Phillips is a retired American Track and Field athlete who is best known for winning the 400 metres hurdles gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games....

 era. He currently holds the World Masters Athletics

World Masters Athletics

World Masters Athletics is the worldwide governing body for the sport of masters athletics – which includes track and field, cross country, and road running events – as participated by people over 35 years of age....

 World Record

Masters Athletics World Records

These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...

 in the 400 hurdles for Men 40+ which he has held for over 20 years He also held the World Record for the M35 and M40 400 metres (without hurdles) for almost 15 years each.

King competed collegiately for San Diego State University

San Diego State University

San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...

 and has remained in the area, coaching at San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Mesa College is a public, two-year community college perched on a mesa in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego, California in the United States. It is the largest community college in the city of San Diego and part of the San Diego Community College District along with San Diego City...

, San Diego City College

San Diego City College

San Diego City College is a public, two-year community college located in San Diego, California. City College is part of the San Diego Community College District along with San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College and San Diego Continuing Education...

, Grossmont College

Grossmont College

Grossmont College is a community college located in El Cajon, California, in the county of San Diego. The campus sits in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon and is bordered by the cities of San Diego and Santee. Grossmont College is one of the two colleges that make up the Grossmont-Cuyamaca...

 and is currently at Cuyamaca College

Cuyamaca College

Cuyamaca Community College is a community college in the San Diego County community of Rancho San Diego, near El Cajon, California. Along with Grossmont College it serves the eastern suburbs in the San Diego area. Cuyamaca opened in 1978 and now offers 59 associate's degree programs and almost 66...

.