Former Saint Augustine's College Hurdler Earns First Olympic
Berth
June 30, 2008
EUGENE, Ore. - Former Saint Augustine's College hurdler and
current Falcon student Bershawn Jackson gained a berth to the 2008
Beijing Olympics with a convincing victory in the 400-meter hurdles
final on Sunday (June 29) at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field
Trials at Hayward Field. This is the first Olympic berth for
Jackson, a Miami, Fla., native who lives and trains in Raleigh, NC,
under George Williams, the legendary Saint Augustine's College
track and field coach and 2004 U.S. Olympic team coach.
Jackson blitzed the field in the finals, crossing the finish line
in 48.17 seconds to beat Kerron Clement (48.36) and Angelo Taylor
(48.42), who both are going to the 2008 Olympics as well. The top
three finishers advance to the Beijing Games.
Jackson, who won his heat in the quarterfinals and semifinals,
entered the finals with the fourth-best semifinal time but made an
adjustment.
"I got out very hard," said Jackson, the 2005 world outdoor
400-meter hurdles champion. "The wind played a big factor in the
race today. I just wanted to relax as much as possible and not
fight the wind and conserve as much energy as possible. The main
thing was to come home strong and have a kick because I knew it was
going to be a tight race.
"I really came on. I felt pretty sluggish today but when the race
came, the adrenaline put me through the race. I had a hurdle-free
day."
Williams said Jackson ran a smart race.
"By him being small, (Jackson) let the wind help him on the
backside," Williams said.
As a result, Jackson attained his life-long goal of making the
Olympics.
"My main thing was to make the team," Jackson said. "I was very
nervous. If I didn't make the team, I think I would have given up
track and field, I was feeling so much pressure."
Jackson, scheduled to graduate from Saint Augustine's College in
the fall semester of 2008, is the latest runner under Coach
Williams headed to the Olympics.
"He is a great individual to support our country," Williams said.
"I am thrilled these kind of students come to Saint Augustine's
College."
