James Alexander Burns (5 November 1907 – 22 May 2003) was an English track and field athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Burns was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. He became the national 4 miles champion after winning the British AAA Championships at the 1931 AAA Championships^[2][3][4] In 1932 at the Olympic Games, he finished seventh in the Olympic 5000 metres event.^[1]

Burns represented England at the 1934 British Empire Games, winning a bronze medal in the 3 miles contest.^[5]

Burns finished second behind Józef Noji in the 6 miles event and second behind William Eaton in the 10 miles event at the 1936 AAA Championships.^[6][7] One month later he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, where he finished fifth in the 10,000 metres competition.^[1]

Burns once again finished runner-up at the 1937 AAA Championships in both the 6 miles and 10 miles races.^[8][9]

His grandson was Richard Burns, the 2001 World Rally Champion.

• Alec Burns at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)