James Barrineau
Encyclopedia
James Archibald "Jim" Barrineau, Jr. (born June 25, 1955 in Fort Gordon, Georgia) is an American
high jump
er.
While competing for the University of Georgia
he won the Southeastern Conference
titles in 1976 and 1977. He was a four-time All American and competed in the World University Games
. He finished second in the 1976 NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship
s to Dwight Stones
then of Long Beach State University. Barrineau vs Stones would maintain a rivalry for some time. While Stones made several world records early on, Barrineau won the last matchup and left with the Masters World Record.
in Montreal, where he finished a disappointing eleventh place in the final, jumping 2.14 metres. Earlier in the qualifying round, he had already jumped 2.16 and he jumped 2.25 a month earlier in qualifying at the Olympic Trials
in finishing behind Dwight Stones and the surprise jumping of Bill Jankunis. In the 1980 Olympic Trials, Barrineau, representing the United States Army
beat Stones, but neither qualified for the team that did not go to the Olympics due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. In the 1984 trials, Stones set the American record, while Barrineau finished a non-qualifying eighth. Barrineau also competed for the U.S. team at the 1983 Pan American Games
.
in Buffalo
, New York
he again squared off against Stones in what might have been the most anticipated and watched masters field event competition to date. In that competition, Barrineau not only beat Stones, but set the M40 World Record
at the time, beating the mark Stones had set a year earlier. That mark is still the currently ratified American Record
. Barrineau also still holds the currently ratified record in the M35 division and has continued to be a top ranked jumper in each age division he has passed through.
Following in his father's footsteps, his son Tommy became the 2010 Indoor Heptathlon
champion, also for the University of Georgia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
er.
While competing for the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
he won the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
titles in 1976 and 1977. He was a four-time All American and competed in the World University Games
Universiade
The Universiade is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation . The name is a combination of the words "University" and "olympiad"...
. He finished second in the 1976 NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Men's Indoor Track and Field-See also:*NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*Pre-NCAA Indoor Track and Field Champions...
s to Dwight Stones
Dwight Stones
Dwight Edwin Stones is an American television commentator and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and former three-time world record holder in the men's high jump. During his 16-year career, he won 19 national championships. In 1984, Stones became the first athlete to both compete and announce at...
then of Long Beach State University. Barrineau vs Stones would maintain a rivalry for some time. While Stones made several world records early on, Barrineau won the last matchup and left with the Masters World Record.
Olympics
Barrineau represented his native country in the 1976 Summer Olympics1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal, where he finished a disappointing eleventh place in the final, jumping 2.14 metres. Earlier in the qualifying round, he had already jumped 2.16 and he jumped 2.25 a month earlier in qualifying at the Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
in finishing behind Dwight Stones and the surprise jumping of Bill Jankunis. In the 1980 Olympic Trials, Barrineau, representing the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
beat Stones, but neither qualified for the team that did not go to the Olympics due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. In the 1984 trials, Stones set the American record, while Barrineau finished a non-qualifying eighth. Barrineau also competed for the U.S. team at the 1983 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
U.S. Army
Barrineau remained with the Army, rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring in 2005. He is sometimes confused with another retired Army Colonel of the same name who is an expert in cyber technology and security.Masters
Barrineau has not stopped jumping. In 1995, at the World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA) ChampionshipsWorld Masters Athletics Championships
The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biannual championships for athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics, formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes over the age of 35 years old....
in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
he again squared off against Stones in what might have been the most anticipated and watched masters field event competition to date. In that competition, Barrineau not only beat Stones, but set the M40 World Record
Masters Athletics World Records
These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
at the time, beating the mark Stones had set a year earlier. That mark is still the currently ratified American Record
United States records in masters athletics
These are the current American records in the various age groups of masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
. Barrineau also still holds the currently ratified record in the M35 division and has continued to be a top ranked jumper in each age division he has passed through.
Following in his father's footsteps, his son Tommy became the 2010 Indoor Heptathlon
Heptathlon
A heptathlon is a track and field athletics combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek hepta and athlon . A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.-Women's Heptathlon:...
champion, also for the University of Georgia.