Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) will be well-represented at the 2015 IAAF World Track and Field Championships.
Olympic medalist Bershawn “Batman” Jackson of the United States is one of four former SAU standouts who will compete in the World Championships which will begins Saturday, August 22 and ends Sunday, August 30, at The Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, China. He heads a contingent of former SAU standouts including Roxroy Cato and Dane Hyatt of Jamaica and Ramon Gittens of Barbados. NBC will televise the World Championships on Saturday, August 22, at 3 p.m. and Sunday, August 23, at 1 p.m. eastern standard time.
Their collegiate coach was the legendary George Williams of Saint Augustine’s University, who has won the most NCAA track and field championships (36), regardless of division. Williams, who is in China, trains Jackson, Cato and Hyatt.
Two of Jackson’s training partners are also in China. Johnny Dutch of the United States and Jeffrey Gibson of the Bahamas in addition to Cato and Jackson are among the challengers in a very competitive men’s 400-meter hurdles field. Williams also trains Dutch and Gibson.
Jackson is looking to duplicate his success in 2005 when he captured the world title in the 400 hurdles. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the world with Dutch right behind at No. 2. Jackson has posted four of the top six times in 2015 including the year’s best time of 48.09 seconds, which is a little faster than Dutch’s best time of 48.13 seconds.
Dutch does have the second- and third-best times in the 400 hurdles in 2015. Gibson is tied for ninth (48.51 seconds), and Cato is tied for the 14th (48.72) in the world. Gittens will run in the 100-meter dash for Barbados, and Hyatt is a member of the Jamaica men’s 4×400-meter relay squad.
Universal Sports Network will televise the World Championships during the weekdays. Check your local television listings for dates and times. NBC will conclude coverage on Saturday, August 29, at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 30, at 2 p.m. eastern standard time.
Courtesy: SAU Athletics
