Defending World 200m Champion, Shericka Jackson, has heightened anticipation for the upcoming IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest by making a declaration that she is “a lot faster” than she was at the Jamaican Trials in July.
At those trials held at the National Stadium in Kingston, the 29-year-old produced a personal best and world-leading 10.65 to defend her 100m title before returning two days later to run 21.71 to defend her 200m crown.
“I’ve gotten a lot faster since the Jamaica trials. It’s just to go out there and execute a good 100m and 200m and I’m definitely expecting good things. I’m in pretty good shape so anything is possible,” Jackson said.
Jackson, who also ran 10.71 to finish second in the 100m at last year’s World Championships in Eugene, ran a pair of 100s and 200s after her exploits at the Jamaican Championships.
The former Vere Technical standout ran 10.78 for second at the Silesia Diamond League on July 16 before, two days later, running 22.02 for victory at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Hungary.
Three days after that, she ran 21.86, her second fastest time of the season, to win at the Monaco Diamond League before running 10.94 for third at the London Diamond League on July 23.
She says that she was able to get some good work done on the training track after those four races.
Jackson also believes some 400m work earlier in the season has put her in a good position to produce her best in both the 100m and 200m in Budapest.
“Earlier in the season I did some 400m work and then I backed off to focus on the 100m. Since I’ve finished competing in those four events on the circuit, we’ve went back to the drawing board and we’re doing pretty well,” she said
“We have days when we focus on the 200m and days when we focus on the 100m so it’s a good balance,” she added.
When questioned about the loaded field she will have to deal with in both events, Jackson said that the most important thing to her right now is getting to the finals.
“The rounds are the most important. You can’t win a medal if you don’t go through the rounds so I think once all of us line up in the final, anything is possible,” she said.
When initially making the switch from the 400m to the 100m, Jackson’s start was something that was under the microscope but she says it is no longer an issue.
“My start has improved tremendously since 2021 and all I’ll have to do is execute and focus on my lane,” she said.
Jackson also said that, despite her scintillating form over the last two seasons, World Records are not the main thing on her mind in Budapest. Instead, her focus is executing a good race and taking whatever times come.
“I’m not going to say I don’t focus on breaking the World Record but it’s not something I dwell on,” she said.
“Yes, it’s in the back of my head that if I execute a good race, then it’s definitely possible but I’m not going to go into the race thinking about a World Record. My coach and I have mental sessions where we focus on a vision of how I’m going to execute the race. Once I go out there and execute a fast time will come,” she added.
The Championships will take place from August 19-27. All the action can be seen live on the SportsMax app.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
Ricketts opens season with 14.50m to win triple jump at Jamaica Athletics Invitational
Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts provided her home fans with a solid performance to win the women’s triple jump at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
The two-time World Championships silver medallist produced a best jump of 14.50m on her first attempt that proved to be enough to win in the end.
American Jasmine Moore had a best jump of 14.28m for second while Dominican World Indoor Champion Thea Lafond jumped 14.22m in the sixth and final round to clinch third.
“I feel exceptional. I usually get started with my season much earlier but this year we decided to get a few things corrected before coming into competition,” Ricketts said following the competition.
“Competing with world class athletes who have been doing well indoors as well really pushed me and gave me a good implication of where I’m at this season,” she added.
The 2022 Commonwealth Champion also spoke on competing in Jamaica.
“It’s always a pleasure to compete in Kingston. Usually, I try to do a meet here before going overseas to compete in the Diamond League. The crowd has warmed up to the jumps because of how well I’ve been doing overseas over the years. I’m always grateful for the support,” she said.
Great Britain’s Hughes, Asher-Smith get 200m victories at Jamaica Athletics Invitational
Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith took victories in the men’s and women’s 200m events at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Hughes, a bronze medallist in the 100m at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, produced a season’s best 19.96 to win ahead of American Fred Kerley (20.17) and France’s Pablo Mateo (20.20).
“I feel really good. I think this is my second 200m race of the season. When I opened up I wasn’t ready so tonight I was just testing out the waters. We’re starting to sharpen up but not as much because it’s a long season,” Hughes said after the race.
“To run 19.96 now, I’m very happy. I just need to stay healthy and continue to execute my races accordingly and everything will be okay,” he added.
2019 World Champion Asher-Smith narrowly won the women’s event in 22.51 ahead of the Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbai (22.53) with Jamaica’s Lanae-Tava Thomas running 22.84 for third.
Asher-Smith says she was hoping for a quicker time and has some things to work on.
“I’m in really good shape so I was hoping to get a quicker time today. Clearly, I’ve got some stuff that I’ve got to work on so I’m going to go back to Austin and work on them but I’m happy to have won here in Jamaica,” she said.
USA’s Holmes, Great Britain’s Hudson-Smith win 400m races at Jamaica Athletics Invitational
American Alexis Holmes and great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith emerged as the winners of the women’s and men’s 400m races at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Holmes, a member of the USA’s gold medal-winning mixed relay team at the World Championships in Budapest last year and the World Relays this year in Nassau, ran 50.31 to lead an American 1-2-3 with Brittany Brown running 51.21 in second and Naasha Robinson running 51.81 in third.
“I had a lot of fun. The energy was great,” Holmes said after the race.
“I was expecting a smooth race and just trying to get the win. I just try to stay relaxed and poised because I know I have a strong finish,” she added.
The men’s race saw World Championship silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith produce 44.69 to take the win ahead of American Matthew Boling (44.98) and Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes (45.41).
“I’m a lot more healthier this year. I’ve got the best team in the world. My coach Gary Evans is a man with a plan and this year it’s all about being healthy when it matters,” he said after the race.
“It was a good executed race. We just wanted to come home strong and be composed. I’ve got Oslo, Europeans, Monaco and London so I’ve got a lot more races and training,” he added.
The Brit also gave props to World Champion Antonio Watson who ran 45.61 for fifth.
“Listen, he’s the reigning World Champion so I’ve got to give him respect. He came out here in front of his people and raced. He delivered when it mattered,” he said.
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