By Michael Bascombe BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Freshman Kirani James was named the SEC Men's Freshman Runner of the Year, as voted on by the league head coaches, the Southeastern Conference announced on Thursday. The Grenadian runner is the second Alabama athlete to garner the award (Emmanuel Bor, 2007). "It's a title very well deserved," head men's track and field coach Harvey Glance said. "Kirani's had one heck of a freshman campaign with a world junior record, being SEC runner-up, running the third-fastest time in the world this year, a new national record and a new school record. I'm real happy that our peers voted him Freshman of the Year It's a great honour for our programme and I'm real proud of him." At the SEC Championships, Feb. 26-28, the freshman earned All-SEC honours by finishing second in the 400m dash with a NCAA automatic qualifying, personal-best time of 45.24. His time shattered the indoor Junior World Record as well as his Alabama school record. James and eventual SEC champion Torrin Lawrence of Georgia broke the SEC meet record. James led the Alabama 4x400m relay to its highest finish at the SEC Championships since 1999, third. He contributed 14 points to Alabama's team total of 47 by placing second in the 400m and third in the 4x400m. Earlier this year, James was named SEC Runner of the Week (Feb. 6) for his performances at the Meyo Invitational where he first broke the 400m indoor Junior World Record of 45.90, with his NCAA automatic qualifying time of 45.79. With his 400m time of 45.24, James holds the fifth-fastest time in collegiate indoor history. James holds the third-fastest indoor 400m time in the world this year and the fastest time on an over-sized track. In addition, James holds the second-fastest 200m time (20.94) and was a member of the seventh-fastest 4x400m relay squad (3:09.27) in school history. Next up for James and Alabama are the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 12-13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.