NATCHITOCHES – Just days after running in the World Athletics Indoor Championships draped in Team USA garb, Natashia Jackson was back on the familiar track of the Walter P. Ledet Track Complex at Northwestern State. 

The former Lady Demon helped the American 4x400 relay reach the finals by running the third leg of a preliminary relay, which won its heat with a 3:28.82. 

Jackson didn't run in the March 21 finals, and the Americans finished fourth with a 3:28.63. 

"It was a surreal moment to actually compete as part of Team USA," Jackson said. "The moment I realized I qualified for the relay pool after competing at the USA Indoor Championships, it was like, 'So am I running or not running at Worlds?' 

"When I found out I was running in the prelims, it just reminded me of the Southland Conference Championships and how I was going to be here to fight as hard as I could." 

Jackson supplied an important kick in the third leg that boosted the relay to a win, besting the Dutch by more than half a second. 

"I knew I had to make a move on my leg, and I wanted to hand it off with us in the lead," Jackson said. "I did that, and I knew there was no way anybody was going to catch us." 

Jackson paced frantically as she watched the finals later that day. 

The Americans couldn't push through the bunch of runners at the tape as the Jamaicans edged the other top three teams. The top four teams were separated by a combined 0.23 seconds after the 1600-meter relay. 

"My heart was pounding from start to finish," Jackson said. "We were going through some things, but I am proud of the heart we ran with. 

"We came up short, but to say that you're the fourth best in the world at something, we can walk out with our heads held high." 

Jackson described an uplifting environment between the athletes from around the world that descended on Belgrade, Serbia, for the meet. 

"The athletes were so cool, and everybody wanted to come take pictures with the American athletes," Jackson said. "Everybody was there for the same purpose. 

"Everybody also interacted with the Ukranian athletes and tried to uplift them as much as possible." 

Jackson got a taste of that fame when she came back to her native Texas and was asked to take pictures and sign autographs in an Austin Walmart. 

She didn't have any Team USA gear on – the high schoolers recognized her. 

"I kept telling myself 'This can't be real,'" Jackson tweeted. 

Now Jackson is back on the NSU track that prepared her to win 19 Southland Conference gold medals in her collegiate career. 

She'll run in Houston this weekend as she tries to lower her 400 meters time to get a qualifying mark for the outdoor season. 

Jackson works out with the Demons when their schedules and workout programs align, and she's hoping the World Indoors will be a launching off point for her professional career. 

"It's a huge moment, a milestone," Jackson said. "I didn't think I'd be able to do something like that. 

"I'm very grateful, and wherever I go, I want to represent NSU well as a proud alumni."