James Gormley
Northern Irish long-distance runner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Gormley (born 3 April 1998) is an Irish middle- and long-distance runner who represents Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 2025, he became Northern Irish indoor record holder over the mile and 3000 metres.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British / Irish |
| Born | 3 April 1998 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Events | Middle-distance running, Long distance running, Cross country running |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests | 800m: 1:48.10 (Watford, 2024) 1500m: 3:36.25 (Bury, 2024) Mile: 3:53.38 (Boston, 2026) 3000m: 7:40.72 (Boston, 2025) 5000m: 13:26.24 (Boston, 2026) |
Early and personal life
Born in Sheffield, England, he is a member of the Carmen Runners club in County Tyrone. He is Northern Irish descent through his father, from Sixmilecross, Northern Ireland.[2]
Career
As a 17-year-old, he competed in the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships where he finished fifth in the 1500m.
In 2023, he ran a 3:37.20 personal best over 1500 metres in Belgium in August 2023, and won in a 13:49 personal best in the Lancaster 5 km race. He also won over 3000 metres in the BMC Nike Grand Prix final in 7:49.61.[3]
Gormley ran a 3000m indoor personal best of 7:53.71 in Sheffield in January 2024.[4] He finished fourth in the 5000 metres race at the Irish National Track and Field Championships in Dublin in July 2024.[5]
In November 2024, Gormley switched his international representation from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ireland.[6]
Gormley improved his 3000m indoor best to 7:40.72 in Boston, Massachusetts in February 2025, to beat Nick Griggs' previous Northern Ireland indoor record. He ran 3:55.66 also in the United States in 2025, to set a new Northern Ireland record in the indoor mile.[6][7] He finished second in the 3000 metres at the All Ireland Indoor Championships behind Seán Tobin at Abbotstown, Dublin, in February 2025.[8][9] He ran for Ireland in the 3000m at the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, where he did not reach the final.[10][11] Later that month, he was selected for the 3000 metres race at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing.[12]
On 31 January 2026, Gormley ran 13:26.24 for the 5000 metres at the Boston Terrier Classic.[13] He ran an indoor personal best in the mile run in Boston at the Saucony Battle in February 2026. His time of 3.53.38 was also a new Northern Ireland indoor record. His official 1500m split time was 3.37.60.[14] He was selected to represent Ireland in the 1500 metres at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, in March 2026.[15][16]
Gormley competed for Northern Ireland in the mile at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.[17][18]