James Nolan (athlete)

James Nolan (born 27 January 1977 in Tullamore, Co Offaly) is an Irish runner who specialized in the 800 metres before changing to the 1500 metres event in 2000. After leaving Tulliamore Nolan represented University College Dublin Athletic club from 1995 to date and also compted for Newham & Essex Beagles and New York Athletic Club from time to time. He announced plans to run the steeplechase in the summer of 2007; though he did not in fact seem to run the event during this time. A married man he is a two time Olympian who was brought up just outside Tullamore in County Offaly and returned to study at University College Dublin in 2005 having been a student there from 1996 to 2001. Between 2001 and 2005 he spent much of his time training in South Africa. Nolan was runner up in the European Under 23 Championship 800 metres in 1999 and second in the European Indoor Championship over 1500 metres in 2000. A one time Irish 800m Indoor record holder Nolan's noted potential as an underage athlete has rarely shown through since he turned 18. He made his senior international debut in 1996 and since then has competed in around 20 senior international Championships but has never really featured in those that were held outdoor and only enjoyed isolated success in some lesser regarded indoor competitions. Over the years Nolan has raced in more than 25 countries. He has enjoyed greater longevity, and has more consistently qualified for major competitions, than domestic contempories such as David Matthews, Daniel Caulfied and Gareth Turnbull but nonetheless must be seen as someone who once promised more than he delivered. Nolan was not selected for the Irish team for the 2007 World Championship which is the first time he has missed such an event when fit since 2003. He returned to some form in early 2008 and qualified for the 1500 metres at the 2008 World Indoor Championship and will compete at the event for Ireland in early March.

Achievements

Year	Tournament	Venue	Result	Extra
1999	World Indoor Championships	Maebashi, Japan	5th	800 m
2000	European Indoor Championships	Ghent, Belgium	2nd	1500 m
2002	European Indoor Championships	Vienna, Austria	6th	1500 m
2003	World Indoor Championships	Birmingham, England	6th	1500 m
2006	World Indoor Championships	Moscow, Russia	6th	1500 m

Personal bests

• 800 metres - 1:46.05 min (1999)
• 1500 metres - 3:35.69 min (2003)
• One mile - 3:54.50 min (2003)
• 3000 metres - 7:52.84 min (2006)

External links

• James Nolan at World Athletics
• Profile