James “Jimmy” Grant, Former KC Star Athlete, Loses Battle to Cancer
James “Jimmy” Grant,
Kingston College star athlete, Jimmy Grant, who was the 1965 and 1966 Jamaican national champion in both the 200 and 400-meter while a student at KC, has passed on after battling cancer. He was 60.
Grant was the women’s head Track & Field coach at the University Iowa for almost 12 years and was the former assistant coach at Iowa for 11 years (1986-96). He has coached 15 all-Americans, 26 Big Ten champions, three NCAA Midwest Regional champions, 28 all-region selections and 81 NCAA Midwest Regional qualifiers during his tenure as head coach.
In 1991, he was inducted into the Eastern Michigan Hall of Fame.
From 1982-86, Grant coached men's and women's track at G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in Jamaica. There he led the men's team to two national titles and two second-place finishes, and the women's team to three national titles.
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Grant captained the 1970 and 1971 Huron track teams, earning all-America honors while specializing in the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and the mile relay. He was the Jamaican 400-meter hurdle national record holder, with a time that was ranked in the top-20 in the world.
Grant also represented Jamaica at the Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games for six years.
Grant received his bachelor's degree in sociology and history from Eastern Michigan, and a master's degree in physical education from the German College of Physical Education in Leipzig, Germany.
He is survived by five children - Flor-Maria Grant-Cope, Suzette Grant-McTaggart, Aisha Grant-Daley, Kareem Segler and Jamie-Lee Grant.
