In the 400m semifinals yesterday, Bershawn "Batman" Jackson ran 49.52 to cross the line 5th in his semifinal. Top 4 made the final.
Jackson, who is now 34, and made every World Champs team since he was a 20 year old in 2003, was emotional after what he thought was the final race ever at a USATF national championships. He opened up in his post-race interview and talked about how much track and field had meant to him, how it had changed his life, and how he wanted to inspire others from tough upbringings. Jackson, who turned pro while in college at St. Augustine's, said he got to go to college thanks to track and field and was the first from his family to graduate from college.
Jackson talked about how people told him he was too short to run the hurdles, but he realized he wasn't. He was sad to not make the final saying, "It's been a great journey...It hurts. Today was sad."
Turns out it wasn't too sad for him, as Texas A&M's Robert Grant ended up being disqualified, opening up a spot for Jackson in the final.
Watch the interview below and we bet you root for Jackson in the finals on Sunday. If Jackson can win USAs on Sunday, he'll surpass Edwin Moses for the most wins of USATFs in the 400m hurdles.
https://youtu.be/p9s4vGAVk_8