By a World-Track contributor
BRESSANONE — Newly crowned World Youth champion Kirani James said he was hoping to break the 45 seconds barrier when winning the 400-metres in Bressanone, Italy on Friday.
James easily won the one lap title with a new Championship record of 45.24seconds in a dominant performance.
But despite being happy with the victory, the Grenadian was a little disappointed with not running below 45sec.
"I am happy with the win. It feels good, but I think I could have run faster," James said after his performance bettered the previous 46.10 best.
"(I wanted) a high 44-seconds or something close to that, but I am still happy," he added.
James, who improved on the silver medal he won at the last championships in Ostrava, is now seen as perhaps "the next Usain Bolt," the lanky Jamaican who ignited the Olympic Games in Beijing, when he blasted to world records in both the 100m and 200m.
The 16-year-old has some work to do to get there, but certainly has the talent to fulfill those promises.
James will be looking to add the 200m to his collections after breezing into the deciding race with a 21.23sec semi-final win on Saturday.
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- Kirani James in action in the 400m PHOTO/TrackAlerts.com
