Rising Stars: James Kourey

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James Kourey has been a part of the Elevated Empire for nearly three years, and during that time, our coaches have had the opportunity to watch him steadily grow into both a stronger runner and a more mature young man. Now 11 years old and in sixth grade, James has shown consistent improvement year after year, but the things that make him such an important part of EDT go well beyond his race times.

James has a beautiful balance between a strong work ethic and a free spirit. He is clearly invested in his running and wants to perform well, but he doesn't take it so seriously that he loses himself in it. He is almost always wearing a smile, is good for a laugh when the group needs one, and is one of our more social athletes. He seems to get along with everyone. He is also regularly one of the first athletes willing to lend a hand whenever a coach needs some extra help.

There is also something very natural about the way James runs. Whether it is a workout, an easy run or a race, he often looks completely free, like he is exactly where he is supposed to be.

Growing Up with Elevated

James joined EDT during summer track in 2024 and is now in his third cross country season. From a coaching standpoint, his progression has been especially rewarding because we have been able to watch him grow up right in front of us.

Coach Tate still remembers the younger James as the kid who couldn't resist picking up a stick during a run and immediately turning it into a sword. That same fun-loving personality is still there, but today James has developed into one of the team's most consistent and mature runners.

"James is one of those athletes I really enjoy coaching because there are a lot of things about him that remind me of myself when I was younger," Coach Tate said. "He cares about getting better and works hard, but he still has that adventurous, free-spirited side. It's been really rewarding watching him mature without losing the things that make him James."

That growth is showing up on the clock, too. James has lowered his personal bests to 2:48.92 in the 800, 5:56.48 in the 1600, 11:46 for 3K cross country and 21:43.9 for the 5K. Breaking six minutes in the mile is one of the accomplishments he is most proud of. Another came this summer when he finally beat his dad's 5K PR, which, according to James, means he is now "officially faster than him."

James credits his improvement to simply continuing to show up and do the work, even when the results don't come immediately. He believes one of his strengths is "being willing to keep doing what I need to do to improve and not giving up even when progress seems slow."

A True Cross Country Kid

James isn't shy about which season owns his heart. He loves cross country.

"I like running a longer distance, and it's a lot more interesting than the track," James said. "I also really like the team mentality of it."

That team mentality is a big part of what running means to James. He loves racing with and against his friends, chasing better times on different cross country courses and, of course, setting new PRs. His advice to a new runner has very little to do with training and everything to do with finding people who make the journey better.

"Make friends. It really helps! When runs get hard or stressful and you feel like you can't do it, friends can help motivate you to keep going."

Some of James's favorite EDT memories reflect that same mindset. His favorite came at the hotel after Nationals last year, when the racing was finally finished and everyone could relax, eat good food and spend time together. He says his favorite part of EDT is how supportive and helpful his teammates are.

"I feel really fortunate to have found my place with Elevated because I have made some really great friends, like Graham, and my coaches are awesome and have helped me grow as a runner and a person."

James also points to his dad as one of his biggest inspirations. His dad is always there with motivation and advice, especially after a run doesn't go the way James hoped. He also credits Coach Ben with playing a major role in his development. James remembers being stuck around 6:45 in the mile before working with Coach Ben helped him learn, improve and eventually break through to another level.

Looking Ahead

James's next big goal is Nationals. Naturally, he would love to come away with a fast time and another PR, but his goals are becoming about more than just numbers. He wants to feel more comfortable racing on a big stage and continue learning to trust himself and his training when the pressure rises.

Outside of running, James has plenty of other interests. He is strong in math and enjoys coding and robotics, along with writing and drawing. He also loves being outdoors, especially hiking and fishing. Someday, he hopes to turn those interests into a career as a robotics engineer, or as James puts it, "something with robots!"

And like any good distance runner, James has his food preferences figured out. His go-to pre-race meal is spaghetti and meatballs or another pasta dish. His favorite post-race treat came after one race when the family got chicken and waffles, which James remembers simply as "DELICIOUS." His favorite ChicknLegs are the classic flamingos or dinosaur-and-asteroid designs, and his hype playlist includes "I Just Wanna Run" by The Downtown Fiction and "The Nights" by Avicii.

We are incredibly proud of the growth James has shown during his years with Elevated, but what makes us most excited is knowing there is still so much of his story left to be written. The little boy picking up sticks as swords on runs has become a focused, consistent and increasingly confident runner, but he hasn't lost the smile, humor or free spirit that made him such a great teammate in the first place.

James is getting faster, stronger and more mature with every season, and we can't wait to see the heights he reaches next.