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Track and field national titles for two
Two black college products won titles in their events at the U. S. Track & Field Championships held this past weekend (June 25-28) in Eugene, Oregon.
St. Augustine's product Bershawn
Jackson finished first in the 400 meter hurdles while former
Albany State standout Brandon
Roulhac won the triple jump with a stadium record jump of
17.44 meters or 57 feet, 2.75 inches.
Jackson, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, posted a season-leading time of 48.03 in winning the hurdles event. It betters the previous time of 48.05 set this past Saturday by Isa Phillips in Kingston at the Jamaican Championships.
The 400 hurdles has been dominated by Americans in recent years and it may be also in this year's World Championships in Berlin in August.
How good was this weekend's field?
Well, Angelo Taylor, the gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was third in 48.30.
Johnny Dutch (48.18) was second, with the top three placers and reigning world champion Kerron Clement advancing to the IAAF World Championships on Aug. 15-23 in Berlin.
"It's been a tradition," said Jackson, who won a bronze medal in Beijing. "It started with (former Morehouse world-renowned hurdler) Edwin Moses. We have a great tradition of hurdlers and each generation wants to keep going."
Taylor, Clement (silver), and Jackson were part of an American medal sweep in Beijing. That dominance could continue in Berlin.
The USA nationals in the 400 hurdles is equivalent to a world championship. The competition is that fierce.
"Most definitely, we make each other better," Jackson said, "That's why it's America. There will always be American trials because you never know who the best is."
Jackson was the best Sunday in a field that did not include
Clement, who receives a bye to the worlds as defending world champion. He
took third in the 400 meters.
A five-time All-American and 2005 NCAA Div. II national champion, Roulhac still holds his school's and the SIAC record in the triple jump.
He won the men's triple jump Thursday at Hayward Field with a wind-aided mark of 57 feet, 2 3/4 inches, blowing away the field with the top five jumps of the day.
"I just thank God for it," said a happy Roulhac after his victory. "I've been working hard and things have just been coming together at the right time. That's mainly the whole story.
"I pray hard, be faithful with my religion, and work hard and I believe that gives the best results. And that's what happened today."
Roulhac, the reigning U.S. Indoor champ, will represent the United States at an international championship event for the first time, after finishing fifth in the national outdoor meet each of the last two years. Walter Davis was second at 55-3, and James Jenkins was third at 55-1.
Two-time defending champion Aarik Wilson did not compete due to injury. He holds the Hayward Field record of 57-2 1/4, set at last year's Olympic Trials.
Roulhac's winning mark does not count as a field record because of the wind.
Former Southern University long jumper Brian Johnson finished second in the event as did Morehouse product Keith Moffat in the high jump.
Johnson finished behind Dwight Phillips winning jump of 8.57 meters (28 feet, 1 1/2 inches). Johnson's leap of 8.26 meters (27 feet 1 1/4 inches) was just ahead of George Kitchens.
Moffat finished in a tie for second with Andra Mason as both cleared heights of 2.28 meters (7 feet, 5 3/4 inches).
All four performers have earned spots on Team USA which will compete in the IAAF World Championships in the Olympic stadium in Berlin, Germany this August.
© 2009 Azeez Communications, Inc.