James Doaty is a two-time national champion in the 800-meters.
April 20, 2000
LEXINGTON, Ky. – James Doaty, a two-time national 800-meter champion, hassigned a letter of intent to run track at the University of Kentucky, headcoach Don Weber announced Thursday.
Doaty, a senior at Louisville Male High School, recently won the 800-meterrun at the 2000 Nike Indoor Classic with a time of 1:53.57, which set a newmeet record by more than one second. He also ran the second-fastest 800meters in the nation among high school athletes during the 2000 indoor season.
As a junior, Doaty won the 800-meter title at the 1999 FootlockerChampionships by running a 1:50.73, the second-fastest high school outdoortime that year. Running with the Male track squad, he helped his teamgarner the 1999 state “AAA” runner-up spot. In doing so, he claimed the800-meter championship as well as contributed to a team title in the4x400-meter relay and a runner-up finish in the 4×800-meter relay.
Doaty has made spectacular progress since first taking up the sport. As asophomore, his first year of competition, he ran a 2:02.13. By his junioryear, he had shaved nearly 12 seconds off that time. He complements hismiddle-distance capabilities with great speed and excellent endurance. Thisis exemplified in his ability to run a 47 second 400 meters, as well as inhis third place finish in the 1999 Kentucky High School Cross CountryChampionships.
“James is a very gifted runner,” UK head coach Don Weber said, “and whatis equally important, if not more important, is that he is a tremendouscompetitor. He races with the daring and courage of an Olympic veteran.”
Doaty’s interest in track came when he decided football was not workingout. He said he chose track to help him get to college and maintain hisfitness. He has overcome his late start in the sport to become one of thepremier junior runners in the nation. As such, he was recruited by a numberof schools and turned down Illinois, Tennessee, Purdue and UCLA to stay instate.
“At first, I never thought I would go to UK,” Doaty said, “because theyweren’t really known for their middle-distance running. The coaches broughtin a good group of runners last year, and they won a 4×800 relay. I thoughtit was a perfect opportunity to get in with a group of guys and dosomething great. I decided I couldn’t get any better than that.”
Weber said that Doaty brings the credentials, on and off the track, thatcan help Kentucky return to national recognition.
“James is as personable as he is athletically talented,” Weber said, “andwe are extremely excited to have him join our program. Based upon James’athletic success as a junior and his academic credentials, he might be themost highly recruited track athlete ever from Kentucky, and we’re ecstatiche chose UK. He’ll be a fantastic addition to our young group ofmiddle-distance runners.”
