Martavius James finished up his high school track career at Franklinton last May by standing on the podium at the state meet at LSU.

James had just competed in the state meet for the second time and finished third in the 400 meters with a time of 49.39 seconds.

He was also part of the Demons’ seventh place 4-by-400 relay team.

Fast-forward to 2017, James is in college about 50 miles away from LSU in Hammond at Southeastern Louisiana University where James is running for the Lions.

If what’s going on now is any indication of the future, these four years at SLU should some memorable ones for the 2016 Franklinton High School graduate.

His collegiate career began where his high school career ended — at LSU.

James made his Lions debut by running seventh out of 16 runners at the LSU Purple Tiger Invitational Meet.

Last Friday, the true freshman was back at it, competing in the McNeese State Indoor Invite #1 and he bettered his first meet.

James beat the facility record in the 200 with a time of 22.23 seconds. The old record was 22.70, but James finished second, as teammate Deandre Henderson won the event in 22.11.

James also ran the 55 and came in sixth with a time of 6.60 seconds. First place was 6.51.

James was also part of the Lions’ winning 4-by-400 relay team at 3:23.

The group won by more than two seconds.

James is without a doubt off to a great start in his college career and we wish him nothing but the best.
SLU is back in action a week from today at McNeese.