Batman scratched

Bershawn ‘Batman’ Jackson was a last-minute scratch to the men’s 400-meter hurdles Saturday at the 82nd annual Kansas Relays, ending a longtime string of victories for the charismatic 25-year-old.

 

Still reeling from the effects of a torn hamstring suffered a month ago in Australia, Jackson never felt comfortable while warming up and decided moments before the start of the race to pull out and avoid the risk of further injury.

“I took four days off leading up to this race hoping it would loosen up, but it only got worse,” said Jackson, a Miami native who earned a bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles in last summer’s Beijing Olympics. “I just want to take the next two or three weeks off and get healthy.”

Jackson has become a Kansas Relays staple in recent years, winning the 400-meter hurdles each of the past four years (2005-2008), setting a Relays record with a time of 48.32 in last year’s meet. He also won the event in 2003 and owns five of the top seven times in the event’s nine-year history.

“I hate pulling out this year,” Jackson said. “I really wanted to go out and get another victory and hopefully another meet record, but I’ve still got next year. And the years after that.”

Lee wins 200

Kansas City native and Olympic qualifier Muna Lee had little trouble in Saturday’s 200-meter dash invitational, coasting to a first-place finish in 23.05.

Lee, who graduated from Kansas City’s Central High and later attended college at LSU, took an early lead and didn’t give it up, holding off Kansas University senior Nickesha Anderson, who was second in 23.45.

“It was supposed to be a really low-key (race), but I know Nickesha’s fast and a lot of other girls will beat me if I give them a chance,” said Lee, who also won the 100-meter dash invitational in 2005. “So I didn’t want that to happen.”

Bonds triumphs in 1,500

Lauren Bonds entered Saturday’s 1,500-meter run.....