Bluffton's Bassitt wins silver in Serbia

Coming off a run in the US Olympic qualifier — where he came up short of making it to Tokyo and finished in eighth place in the 400-meter hurdles — Bluffton's Trevor Bassitt was left with a decision: He could come back to Ashland for one more season in the spring, or he could make the jump to professional running. He chose the former because he felt like he still had something to prove. It's interesting he says that, considering he's a 16-time All-American, a nine-time national champion and holds the Division II records in the 200-meter (20.4) and the 400-meter (45.27). "If I had made the Olympic team, I would've turned pro and just rode that wave," he said. And there was a chance to get compensation for running for the Eagles. "But between not making the Olympic team and all the NIL (name, image, likeness) rules coming out — as far as the ability to make money as a collegiate athlete — it made it pretty much a no-brainer for me to come back "I can come back, get my masters, still be around my teammates while still being able to make money of my name, image and likeness as a track athlete, there was no reason for me not to come back." He's already received his master's degree in executive management from AU and now, he's reaping the benefits from NIL deals. "Most of the deals that I have gotten are through products I have used or that I have interest in. It's easier to be an ambassador or a sponsor for a product you use or enjoy because you have to be authentic," Bassitt said. "I've reached out to companies whose products I use — and I've heard back from some and I haven't from others — but then you end up getting those NIL deals. "Some of them have given me free merchandise, some deals I'll get payments every now-and-then and then another deal I get a monthly payment." But before being around his teammates for one last time, Bassitt had one more goal he wanted to accomplish: making the World Athletics Indoor Championships held in Serbia from March 18-20. Which the former Pirate did, after winning a national title (45.75) in the open 400-meter during the USATF Indoor Championships that were held in Spokane, Washington. Aside from getting the chance to make it on the world's largest stage, it was a chance for new experiences he won't soon forget. "I had never left the country before, let along flown to Serbia, so getting on an international flight was a new experience that was super cool," he said. "But I think the coolest part was competing for Team USA, obviously. I mean it's the dream I've had for years, so being able to be teammates and to hang out with some track athletes that I've watched on TV that I've looked up to for years…being able to call them teammates and now being able to call some of the friends is a really cool thing." He was the only collegiate athlete on Team USA. And he proved he belonged. He ran a 46.47 in the opening round and advanced to the semifinal. In the semifinal, Bassitt ran a 46.26 that gave him the No.3 seed heading into the final round. Bassitt saved his best for last, running a 45.05 400-meter — his personal best — and picked up the silver medal. Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards just edged out Bassitt, running a world-record time of 45 seconds flat. "I felt like I had more in the tank, so my expectation going in was to win and when I didn't win, I was a little surprised and caught off guard," he said. "I had ran the fastest time of my life, the best I had felt I did and I just didn't win. But I guess that's the beauty of this sport." Bassitt is back home, readying himself for the collegiate season one last time but he's still got the future on his mind. He'll run in the USA Outdoor Championships in June in hopes of making the World Outdoor Championships. Not bad for someone who didn't necessarily think this was on the table for him when he was in high school. "I thought I'd be a pretty dang good college athlete, but I never thought I'd be a world medalist, Team USA and a D-II record-holder. I never thought those things would've been in my future," Bassitt said. "So, it's really cool to kind of look back and be like 'Okay, I've become someone that high school me would look up to.'"