James Young emerged from Indoor Nationals as the 2021 National Champion in the mile following a performance for the ages. Reaching the event finals with the second fastest time in the prelims on
Mar. 12, Young found himself up against a very strong field on
Mar. 13 for his final race of the indoor season.
After battling in the middle of the pack through the mile's first 800m, Young began to steadily make his way up to the front and with his sights set on leader Missouri Southern's Ryan Riddle. Young's decisive move came in the final 200m where he passed Riddle, broke away from Colorado Mesa's Tony Torres as well, and leaned across the finish line for a new program record 4:00.40 and the title. The mark bettered his previous time by nearly four full seconds, was the second-fastest mile time run at the NCAA Division II National Championship meet, and fourth in NCAA DII history all-time.
"It was a really hard race," Young said. "Me and Coach Steve [Fuelling] thought it would be an honest race from the gun and that's how it panned out. Ryan Riddle, who put the pressure on from the start is a really strong runner, and it was all about just trying to keep in contact and hope my closing speed could come good in the end. I thought he was getting away from me with about 500m to go, and felt like I was now in a race for second. But the momentum from having to hold off Tony Torres carried me towards Ryan and then I realized I had a chance again. It's been a long time coming after last year was so abruptly canceled, so I wanted to make this one count. I knew I was the fittest I've ever been, thanks to the great work Coach Steve has done and I appreciate everything he's done for me. Once I crossed the line, it was just the relief that everything I've done has paid off and I've got something now to show for it."
