Johnny Dutch skipped the proverbial cloud nine in describing his effort at the U.S. Track and Field Championships and went right to could 10.

Dutch, a Clayton native, finished second in the men's 400-meter hurdle championships on Sunday, running a personal best time of 48.18 seconds in the event and beating former Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor in the process.

"Everything feels so surreal right now," Dutch said in an online interview at usatf.org after the race. "I don't even know what to feel. I'm on cloud 10 right now."

The finish gives Dutch a spot in the World Track and Field Championships set for Aug. 15-23 in Berlin.

Dutch, a rising junior at the University of South Carolina, led the way for the middle stretch of the race. But eventual race winner Bershawn Jackson, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, made a strong finishing push, catching Taylor first, and then Dutch just before the final hurdle.

"Just to be able to be beside them, it was an honor," Dutch said of his competition.

"They brought out the best in me. I give it to them."

Jackson won in 48.03, the fastest time in the world this season. Dutch's run was the second-fastest.

"This is a real mature race," said Dutch, who is just 20 years old. "I competed today against a lot of guys who are in their prime and they know how to race.

"I haven't been doing it as long as they have."

Taylor has two Olympic gold medals in the event, winning in 2000 and 2008. Jackson is 26 years old, while Taylor will turn 31 later this year.

Dutch won nine individual state high school track championships at Clayton but didn't start consistently competing in the 400-meter hurdles until just two years ago.

The longest hurdle event in high school competition is just 300 meters.

The World Championship appearance in August will be Dutch's fourth major overseas competition and he's already looking forward to it.

"I know God has good things in store for me," Dutch said. "I'm hoping for a 1-2-3 there with those guys [Jackson and Taylor]."

Garner native Booker Nunley, one of Dutch's teammates at the University of South Carolina, turned in a second place finish in the 110-meter junior hurdle finals.

Nunley finished in 13.36 seconds, just behind another Wake County standout -Southeast Raleigh High School graduate Wayne Davis.

Benson native Anna Raynor finished 12th in the women's javelin throw on Saturday. Raynor's best throw measured out at 154 feet, two inches.