At just 17, British high jumper Samuel James, crowned European U18 champion in Rieti this summer, has announced his commitment to the University of Arkansas in the United States. Having cleared 2.25m to claim continental gold, he is already regarded as one of the most promising talents in his event. He will now continue his development in one of the most competitive environments in American collegiate athletics, joining an institution that has previously welcomed several leading British athletes.
Samuel James, a talent to emerge on the European stage
Samuel James truly made a name for himself this summer at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti, Italy. Competing in the high jump, the Briton cleared 2.25m to take gold in emphatic fashion, finishing 13 centimetres ahead of Poland’s Dawid Barański, who claimed silver with 2.12m. Having entered the competition with a previous personal best of 2.09m, James went on to clear 2.15m, 2.18m, 2.21m, 2.23m and finally 2.25m. He therefore improved his personal best by an impressive 16 centimetres in a single competition, setting a new championship record in the process. His winning clearance also saw him equal the British U18 record, which had stood since 1997 and was held by Steve Smith.
His move to Arkansas also comes at an exciting time for British high jumping, with a particularly promising generation emerging in the event. Otis Poole, another young British high jump prospect, announced his commitment to Texas A&M in November 2025. Having claimed silver at the 2025 European U20 Championships, Poole has since further underlined his potential by winning bronze at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships. Kimani Jack’s progress also highlights the opportunities offered by the American collegiate system. Having previously competed for the University of Birmingham before transferring to Georgia, the Briton claimed the NCAA outdoor title in June 2026. He won the high jump competition with a clearance of 2.28m, becoming NCAA champion in the event.
James will not be the only British European U18 champion from this summer heading to the United States. Tito Odunaike, who claimed gold in the triple jump in Rieti after also winning the British indoor title, has likewise announced his collegiate commitment and will continue his career at Stanford University.
Arkansas, meanwhile, already has experience of developing young British talent. In November 2024, 400m specialist Kara DaCosta announced her commitment to the Razorbacks. She was following in the footsteps of Amber Anning, who had made her mark in an Arkansas vest after previously competing for LSU. Anning won the NCAA indoor 400m title in 2024 and also finished third in the outdoor final that same year, playing an important role in Arkansas’ wider success as the university secured both the men’s and women’s NCAA team titles indoors and outdoors.
