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Bershawn Jackson
DPalmer photo
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Florida-born 400m hurdler, Bershawn “Batman” Jackson is a little man with a very big heart. The 28-year-old American, a former 400m hurdles World champion (2005) with a lifetime best 47.30secs, stands 5ft 7in tall. Batman makes his living attacking 39-inch high hurdles, and he is good at it. He was the 400m hurdles bronze medalist at both the 2008 Beijing Olympics (48.06) and the 2009 Berlin World Championship (48.23).
Batman, the former St. Augustine’s College star, had a 2010 world leading 47.32 and posted a 2011 season best 47.93 at the USA Track and Field Championships on June 26.
Caribbean TrackLife
spoke with the energetic Batman after his second-place finish (48.55) behind Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson (48.50) at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York on June 12, before the US Trials.
Preparation for the Worlds
Regarding his preparation for the Trials and the World Championship Batman said, “I am progressing every time I step on the track. Each meet, I am getting better and better. This is my third race of the season [New York] and when it is time to peak I am ready.” While other athletes were affected by the rain and the cold temperature in New York, Batman, the Champaign, Illinois resident was unfazed. Of course, the state of Illinois is known for its sub-zero-degree temperatures.
When asked how he generates the confidence to compete in such a grueling event [400m hurdles] against much taller competitors, Batman Jackson, who says he’s always on the lookout for “the college athletes running super fast” , pointed out: “I am 5’-7”, and one thing you can’t coach is guts, courage and heart. I have that desire to win. I am determined to win. That [desire] is built in me. This is my meal-ticket. This is my way out.”
Batman, who has already punched his ticket to Daegu, will take on Jeshua Anderson, Angelo Taylor and South Africa’s LJ Van Zyl in the 400m hurdles at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, July 22.