James Gilkes is a former sprinter from Guyana who specialised in the 200 metres.
Education
At the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton he finished fourth in the 100 metre final, then took the silver medal in the 200 metres, finishing behind Allan Wells of Scotland. The team from the University of Southern California (Joel Andrews, James Sanford, William Mullins and Clancy Edwards) that finished second in the same race also broke the old world record and this time of 1:20.26 was accepted as a world record.
Career
He was runner up to Don Quarrie of Jamaica in the 1978 American Automobile Association"s 200 metres event. In 1978, Gilkes was denied a world record for the 4x200 m relay. In 1979 he took 3rd place in the "Golden sprints" in Zurich.
He applied to the International Olympic Committee (International Olympic Committee) for permission to run as an individual under their flag but was denied the request.
He also went to the 1980 Olympic Games where he reached the semi-finals of both the 100 and 200 metres before he was eliminated. Gilkes studied first at Fisk University then moved to the University of Southern California ( University of Southern California).
As of 2012, Gilkes was still ranked in the top 10 all-time performers for the University of Southern California Trojans at 100 and 200 m, joint 7th and 4th respectively. 1974 (for Fisk) - 6th in 100 y.
1st in 220 y
1975 (for University of Southern California) - 2nd in 200 m
1976 (for University of Southern California) - 3rd in 100 m.
2nd in 200m. Gilkes joined Fisk University when it started a student transfer program with his native country of Guyana in 1972. Gilkes remained at Fisk University until 1974 when he transferred to University of Southern California. He has stated he was not unhappy at Fisk but did not enjoy the Tennessee weather and preferred the sunnier climes of California.
Gilkes was ranked in the top ten 100 and 200 m sprinters in the world from 1974 to 1979, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.
Gilkes when in the United States was eligible at that time to compete in the United States of America National Track and Field Championships.
Membership
The Tobias Striders team he was a member of broke the old world record with a time of 1:20.23 but this was not accepted by the IAAF as a record because the members of the team were from different countries. The other members of the team were: Guy Abrahams, Panama. Michael Simmons, United States of America.
And Don Quarrie, Jamaica.
He was an important member of the track team at both colleges.