James Harding (runner)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 November 2003 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | Middle-distance running |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 800m: 1:46.44i (2026)
1500m: 3:41.14 (2025) Mile: 3:55.78 (2026) |
James Harding (born 6 November 2003) is a New Zealand middle-distance runner. He is the New Zealand indoor national record holder over 800 metres.[1]
Biography
From Pukekohe, Harding attended secondary school at King's College, Auckland, graduating in 2021 before moving to the United States to study and compete at the University of Oregon in 2022. Specialising in 800 metres and 1500 metres while representing Counties Manukau Athletics and the Papakura Athletics and Harriers club, Harding bettered the New Zealand national junior (under 20) record held by Nick Willis, running 1:47.96.[2]
At the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, Harding was sixth in the final of the 800 metres, with a time of 1:48.35.[3]
Harding initially redshirted at Oregon.[4] In March 2025, he was part of the Oregon medley distance relay which placed third overall at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia Beach.[5] That year at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas, Harding set the New Zealand national record for the 800 metres indoors at 1:47.39.[6]
In January 2026, Harding ran a new 800 m personal best of 1:46.83 to break his own New Zealand indoor national record set the previous year ago at the same venue in Arkansas. That weekend he also set a new personal best in the mile of 3:55.78.[6] Having had his national record equalled by Tom Cowan, on 20 February 2026, Harding lowered the national record in the 800 metres again, with a time of 1:46.44 at the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, Arkansas, placing third behind Rivaldo Marshall of Jamaica, and Oregon teammate Matthew Erickson of Canada.[7][8] Competing at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships the following month, he qualified for the final of the 800 metres with the sixth fastest time of 1:47.23, and finished fifth in the final in 1:46.98.[9][10][11]
In March 2026, he was named in the New Zealand team for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland.[12]
References
- ^ "James Harding". World Athletics. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "James Harding Heading To Oregon In 2022". Counties Sports Hub. Nov 15, 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Weekly Round Up: 9 August". Athletics.org. August 8, 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ Hansen, Chris (21 March 2024). "Oregon track and field opens the season with the Oregon Preview at Hayward Field". Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships". World Athletics. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Weekly Round Up - February 2, 2026". Athletics.org.nz. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Qualifier". World Athletics. 20 Feb 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Weekly Round Up - February 23, 2026". Athletics.org.nz. February 23, 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "NCAA D1 Indoor Track & Field Championships 2026 Live Updates, Results". Flotrack. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ Hansen, Chris (14 March 2026). "Oregon track & field wins 2 titles on opening day of NCAA Indoor meet". Register Guard. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ Gault, Jonathan (March 15, 2026). "NCAA Indoor men: Colin Sahlman wins controversial 3000 via DQ, as sprint records fall". Lets Run. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Beamish, Walsh, & McCartney Headline 13‑Strong NZ Team for World Indoor Championships". Athletics.org. March 13, 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.