By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The background on James Durham’s cell phone serves as his daily reminder.

It is a screenshot of the regional track results from May 23, 2024, at Austintown Fitch High School.

On that day, Durham placed 10th in the preliminary of the 110 hurdles and missed an opportunity to compete in the finals for a chance at Columbus.

He was disappointed, but was not afraid to recycle his perceived failure into motivation for his senior season.

“I know what I am capable of. I know what I can achieve,” Durham said. “I know that I don’t want to feel that way again.”

It is quite a different level of determination for Durham, who first ran track as a seventh-grader just as the Covid-19 pandemic prepared to pause the world.

As Durham’s first year of track was starting, he was identified as a distance runner and admits that training sessions were not fun.

“I will be honest, I did not like it at all,” Durham said. “When Covid canceled the season, I was actually happy about it.”

Even still, he returned to track for his eighth-grade year and that is when things changed.

Durham changed events to the hurdles and has been determined to perfect his technique and better his times ever since.

“In eighth grade and my freshman years, I was not very good, but I fell in love with it,” Durham said. “I wanted to get better, I wanted to be the best I could be, so I worked hard in the off-seasons to get there. I had a passion to want to be better, because when I was competing in the hurdles, it just felt right.”

Durham’s commitment was met by a familiar face: Josh Jakacki.

Jakacki, who first began coaching Durham as a third-grader for basketball, worked to push Durham to a new level.

“During my freshman and sophomore seasons, I felt like Coach Jakacki helped me make really big strides,” Durham said. “He helped me with a lot of drills that helped build my strength, my form and my technique. He has been my coach for a long time, and we have gone through a lot together, but we know each other well and I know he wants nothing but the best for me.”

The best soon started to be noticed by everyone.

Durham’s junior season was decorated by personal records, a Chagrin Valley Conference championship, regional qualification and the acceptance of a college scholarship to attend Ohio Northern University.

All were amazing, but none were enough to satisfy Durham.

Now is not the time he plans to slow down.

Durham’s early season times have been dropping from meet to meet, and he already bested his PR, crossing the finish line in 15.27 at the Don Faix Invitational that was hosted by Crestwood on April 12.

It is a reflection of Durham’s focused training, which began back in September with his personal hurdles coach.

“I just want to be the best version of myself that I can be, and I will keep working hard until I get there,” Durham said. “That’s why I put the regional results from last year as the background on my phone. I wanted to see that every day and let it remind me why I am working so hard to achieve what I know I am capable of.”

His capabilities are endless, including the opportunity for a new background on his cell phone by June.