Bershawn Jackson, who as a youth was nicknamed after the comic book Superhero because “they said I had big ears and I fly,” enters as marquee men’s performer in today’s Gold Zone, set for 2 to 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

The two-time defending 400 hurdles Relays champion, who won his specialty event at the 2005 World Championships and is considered a gold-medal hopeful for the 2008 Olympic Games, takes the torch from Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin, featured athletes at the past two Relays.

Kansas Citian Greene didn’t put the Relays on his schedule this spring season, while Gatlin is facing a long suspension for alleged drug use by track and field’s governing body.

“I am blessed. I work so hard. I am so humble, such a warrior,” Jackson, a 23-year-old native of Miami who trains in Raleigh, N.C., said Friday. “For me, being a favorite, it’s hard work. I deserve it.”

Jackson will face stiff competition from his training partner, Ian Weakley, during today’s 400 hurdles, set for 4:50 p.m.

“I love being on top. It’s a challenge for me,” Jackson said. “My goal is to dominate all season, to stay on top.”

Jackson, who ran 48.3 to win his second straight Relays a year ago, recalled the 2006 event fondly.

“I remember coming out, having fun, staying relaxed and staying focused,” Jackson said. “Last year was a good race. I’ll try to do better this year.”

Jackson – he was USA Outdoor runner-up a year ago in a time of 47.48 (his P.R. is 47.3 at the 2005 Worlds) – said he’ll welcome the cheers of the fans today.

Don’t be afraid to call him Batman when asking for his autograph. He embraces the nickname.

“I was so small,” the 5-foot-8, 158-pounder said. “I thought it was an insult at first. It grew on me.”

¢Hysong here: Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong will compete in today’s pole vault against a strong field that includes KU graduate Pat Manson, the only vaulter in history to clear 18 feet for 21 straight years.

Also competing will be 1996 Olympian Jeff Hartwig, two-time defending Relays champ Jacob Pauli, and Russ Buller, who cleared 18-91â2 at last week’s Mt. SAC Relays.

“I’ve come here the last two years. It’s been a lot of fun,” Hysong said. “The people have a lot of respect for the athletes here. You come here, and if you have a problem, it’s taken care of. I’m excited because this year they’ve brought in more athletes. There’s a little more pressure, more drive.”

Hartwig, who competed in college at Arkansas State, has been to the Relays many times.

“I drove by Jayhawker Towers today. That’s where I stayed at pole-vault camp in 1984,” Hartwig said.

“In 1990 I was a senior in college and remember Scott Huffman (ex-Jayhawk) started at 171â2 feet. I’d never seen a guy go so high above the bar in my life. It was the most amazing thing I’d seen. I thought, ‘He’ll jump an American record today.’ The bar was at 18-4, he did not make it, and I ended up beating him on a miss. I got on him about that for a couple of years.”

¢Confident relay team: Coach Al Hobson’s Nike Central 400 relay team (Marty Scales, Mark Jelks, Ivory Williams and Rae Edwards) plans to turn in a blazing performance at 2:25 p.m. today.

“Yes, without a doubt,” Edwards said, asked if the Nike team would emerge as the top story at the Relays.

“We’ve been training since August. It’s the first time we’ve had a solid base. I feel more than confident we are going to actually go out and put on a show for everybody instead of just winning the race.”

Edwards, who like Jelks competed at Kansas City Kansas CC, said folks will be “shocked” at the Nike team’s speed.

“I guarantee victory,” he stated. “Somebody has to step up. We put it on ourselves to keep the KU Relays right up there.”

Jelks said: “I feel good about it. I feel our relay will put up some numbers.”

All four also will compete in the invitational 100 at 4 p.m.

¢Lee, Felix ready: Los Angeles native Allyson Felix will run the invitational 100 at 3:40 p.m. today. She also will run with Kansas City’s Muna Lee, plus Virginia Powell and Tina Madison in the 400 relay at 2:25 p.m.

Felix was a silver medalist in the 200 in the 2004 Olympics and won gold at the 2005 World championships. Lee, of Kansas City, was U.S.A. Outdoor 100-meter silver medalist in 2005.

“I always have fun coming back home to run,” Lee said.

¢Hayes set for 100 hurdles: Olympic 100 hurdles gold medalist Joanna Hayes, a former UCLA standout, will compete at 2:55 p.m. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Hayes became the second American 100 hurdles gold medalist in history, finishing an Olympic-record and personal-best time of 12.37 seconds. She will compete against former Texas All-American and 2006 Kansas Relays champion Nichole Denby. Also in the field is Haiti’s Nadine Faustin-Parker, the country’s record holder in five events and a personal-best time of 12.74 seconds in this race.