Jackson soars to 400 meter hurdles title

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, N.C., 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."

Johnson vaults to second in long jump

Brian Johnson solidified his name in Southern University athletic lore by finishing second in the long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Saturday and earning a spot on the 2008 U. S. Olympic team that competes this summer in Beijing, China.

Johnson joins outstanding former hurdlers Willie Davenport and Rodney Milburn as Jaguars to earn Olympic berths.

Johnson had the leading jump on the trials heading into the long jump finals. On Friday, Brian leaped 8.09 meters (26-06.50 feet), outdistancing eventual winner, Travell Quinley, by three inches.

On Sunday, Quinley lept 8.36 meters (27-05.25 feet) to take the win over Johnson, who had a second place jump of 8.30 meters (27-02.75 feet), while Miguel Pate finished third.

"I felt pretty good today," said Johnson. "I felt okay. A little jittery at first but it is kind of the biggest meet of your life so you just try to keep your composure. Once I started to feel it, I started getting where I needed to be. So overall I felt good. I am on the team. I wanted to win, but I let it slip away from me, but I guess the biggest thing is I am on the team and I live to go to Beijing."

Johnson is a former Southern two-sport athlete (basektball and track), and is the USA's number-one ranked long jumper. Johnson is also an assistant coach for the Southern Jaguars Track team.

Johnson has three of the top seven jumps in the world this year and entered the US Olympic Trials with the top wind-legal mark of 27-2 3/4 feet. He was the 2006 USA Outdoor champion and was part of the 2005 World Championships team. He currently ranks fourth in the world.

"My main thing is staying healthy. The distances will get further and further if I stay healthy," replied Johnson.

Although Johnson trains with former LSU assistant Boo Schexnayder, he dedicated his performance to Southern Head Track Coach, Johnny Thomas. Thomas has been ill for some time now, and has taken a leave of absence from school.

The Beijing (China) 2008 Olympic Games are August 8-24, 2008.