TOKYO (AP) — Dan Michalski was working at Walmart just a few years ago. Add to that a job at a real estate business, a shoe store, a bike shop, Jimmy John's and as a college coach.

He effortlessly runs off the long list of jobs.

“Oh yeah, I've done all kinds of things," he said.

On Saturday, he ran just as easily in a preliminary heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the world track and field championships, finishing third in his heat to reach the 15-runner final. He described the feeling as "really special."

“I think about the times I was doing hill workouts by myself out in the middle of Texas — putting in a world-championship effort with nobody around," he said.

Michalski has lived the way a lot of track and field athletes do: on the edge, waiting for a breakthrough, and hoping t

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