Jackson backs Greene to be future challenger at top level

By Sportsbeat staff, Sportsbeat

BERSHAWN Jackson has tipped Dai Greene to be one of his chief rivals for gold over 400m hurdles at the London 2012 Olympics.

PROMISING: Bershawn Jackson won the Diamond League 400m hurdles title but backed Britain's Dai Greene to be a future challenger (Reuters)

Newly-crowned European champion Greene proved he still had more in the tank ahead of October's Commonwealth Games as he clocked 48.26 seconds to finish second behind Jackson at the IAAF Diamond League in Brussels on Friday.

And Jackson, the former world champion, who won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, believes there is more to come from his Welsh rival.

"I've been watching him for a while and I wasn't surprised when he did well at last year's World Championships because he needed a big meet to prove himself," he said.

"He has improved since then and he has impressed me a lot actually. He has certainly announced himself as a threat for the years ahead." 

While many athletes have skipped the Commonwealth Games - or got in early excuses about the lottery of extending their seasons to October - Greene is delighted his Brussels outing didn't call time on the season.

He will travel to India as the top-ranked 400m hurdler in the Commonwealth - with Trinidad's Jehue Gordon, Jamaica's Leford Green and Welsh team-mate Rhys Williams his main rivals for another gold.

And after setting a 48.12 sec personal best in Barcelona, Kriss Akabusi's 47.82 sec British record - set at the 1992 Olympics - may also be in his sights.

"I would like to make the podium in Delhi but I think it will be harder than in Barcelona because there are going to be athletes who have peaked for this event," he said.

"However, my performance in Brussels just reinforces what I did in Barcelona and reiterates that I can go sub-48."