Jeff James

Position:
Backstroke/IM/Middle Distance Freestyle
Height:
6-5
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Chapel Hill, N.C.
High School:
Chapel Hill

Career Best Times: 1:49.23 in the 200-yard individual medley (10th in school history); 49.33 in the 100-yard backstroke (9th in school history); 1:45.63 in the 200-yard backstroke (4th in school history); 20.73 in the 50-yard freestyle; 45.81 in the 100-yard freestyle; 1:39.84 in the 200-yard freestyle.

General: Leads the team as a tri-captain for the 2009-10 men's team and was also a tri-captain of the 2008-09 UNC men's team...ranks No. 3 on UNC's preseason depth chart in the 200 back with a time of 1:45.63 and in the 200 IM with a time of 1:49.23...is fourth on the depth chart in the 100 back at 49.33...three-time returning letter winner who is one of Carolina's most versatile swimmers...an outstanding individual medley swimmer, backstroker and middle distance and sprint freestyler....swam for the North Carolina Aquatic Club in Chapel Hill before enrolling at Carolina.

Long Course Highlights: Qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter back, 200-meter back and 200-meter IM.

2008-09 (Junior): Capped off a successful junior season with school record-breaking swims as a member of the 400-yard medley relay, 400-yard freestyle relay and 200-freestyle relay...all three relays finished fifth at the ACC meet...swam the fastest legs of the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays with splits of 19.08 and 43.52, respectively...his top individual swims of the ACC meet were two 15th place finishes in the 100 and 200-yard backstrokes...named to the 2008-09 ACC Academic Honor Roll...selected for the UNC Dean's List in both semesters of the school year...chosen as the ACC Performer of the Week on February 3 for his performances in the dual meet against Duke.

2007-08 (Sophomore): Set a new career best in the 200-yard backstroke by posting a time of 1:46.05 in the event at the ACC Championships...his time in the 200-yard backstroke moved him from third place into second place in school history...was a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay unit that finished fourth at the ACC Championships with a time of 6:34.66, knocking more than 12 seconds off the relay's seed time...also swam on three other relay teams at the ACC meet... his time of 1:46.05 in the 200-yard backstroke at the ACC Championships claimed sixth place ...his time of 49.48 in the 100 backstroke claimed 10th place at the ACC Championships...placed 13th in the 200-yard individual medley at the league meet...named to the 2008 ACC All-Academic Men's Swimming and Diving Team, one of eight Tar Heels selected...selected for the 2007-08 ACC Academic Honor Roll, the Fall 2007 Dean's List and the Spring 2008 Dean's List.

2006-07 (Freshman): Competed in two events at the NCAA Championships -- the 200-yard individual medley and as a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay...swam a career best in the 200 IM, placing ninth at ACC Championships and moving him into eighth place on UNC's All-Time Top 10 list...finished seventh in the 200-yard backstroke at the league championships...his performance in the 200-yard back was fast enough to place him third on the UNC All-Time Top 10...was just off a career best with a 1:39.95 in the 200 freestyle at the meet...was on the 800-yard freestyle relay which placed third at the ACC Championships......named to 2006-07 ACC Academic Honor Roll...was a fall semester 2006 Dean's List selection.

Prep: Graduated from Chapel Hill High School in June 2006...swam at CHHS for four years competing in the 100 & 200 backstrokes, 200 & 400 IMs and 50, 100 and 200 frees...senior national U.S. Swimming qualifier while in high school...won multiple high school individual state titles...achieved 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying times in multiple events while still in high school.

Personal: Given name is Jeffrey Edward James...nicknamed Thunderbreeze or The Spaniard...son of Steve and Linda James...was born August 26, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pa. ...has three brothers, Steve, 26, Dave, 23, and Scott, 15.

The Gist of Jeff
Academic Major at Carolina: Journalism
Career Plans: Become a stay-at-home dad or run a restaurant with teammate Michael Wilson
Hobbies: Long walks on the beach, picking berries
Athlete I Most Admire: Jared Kleber
Person Who Has Had The Greatest Influence on My Athletic Career: Andre Agassi
Favorite Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite Food: Escargot
Favorite Movies: Sweet Home Alabama, Rudy
Favorite TV Show: Scrubs
Country I've Never Been To But Want To Visit: Australia
Entertainment Figures I'd Most Like To Have Dinner With: The Ladies of The View