James Butler (born June 21, 1960) is an American former track and field sprinter who specialized in the 200-meter dash.
Collegiately he ran for Oklahoma State University and was the school's first ever winner of the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, doing so in 1982 with a wind-assisted run of 20.07 seconds.
[4] He ran at the Liberty Bell Classic, an alternative meet for boycotting nations held in Philadelphia.
[5] Butler ran his lifetime personal record for the 200 m in 1982, crossing the line in Provo, Utah in 20.23 seconds.
[6] Butler continued to run on the international circuit and was the world's eighth best 200 m sprinter in 1984 with a time of 20.31 seconds set in Rome.