Jamaica Olympic 100m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson has admitted that she is yet to decide what distance to compete over in the future, with the 400m remaining near and dear to her heart.
Jackson, who began her senior career as a quarter-miler, and in fact has an Olympic bronze medal in the event from the 2016 Olympics, surprised many with her decision to drop to the 100m and 200m sprints ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
The results, however, speak for themselves. Jackson achieved personal bests of 10.76 and 21.82, times which undoubtedly put her among the elite echelons of the events. In addition to that, the athlete claimed a bronze medal behind compatriots Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Tokyo.
“As a quarter-miler stepping down a lot of people would have said, oh you can’t do it but a lot of quarter-milers have stepped down and shown it is possible. When you show up at the line, you give your best, my best was good enough, I got a medal,” Jackson told members of the media ahead of Saturday'ss Diamond League meet in Eugene Oregon.
With the World Championships expected to get underway in just around a year’s time, the sprinter will have a decision to make, stick to the 100m, 200m, attempt the 200m, 400m or return to just the 400m. She, however, believes there is plenty of time to sort that out.
“The good thing about this is that I can switch the events at any time. I can run all three. It has to be a decision me and my coach will make. I still have a lot of love for the 400m, it’s not that I stopped running the 400m. I just took a break and the break was really good for me.”
Clayton leads Jamaican sweep while Paulino and dos Santos dominate at Bislett Games Diamond League
The Bislett Games Diamond League meeting in Oslo delivered a night of thrilling performances and unexpected outcomes on Thursday. While Rushell Clayton and Marileidy Paulino emerged victorious in their respective events, two-time world champion Shericka Jackson had a disappointing finish in the 200m.
World leader Rushell Clayton continued her stellar season, winning the 400m hurdles in 54.02 seconds despite challenging weather conditions. Clayton, who has been dominant in the event, controlled the race from the start and pulled away decisively towards the end. Compatriot Andrenette Knight finished second with a season-best 54.63 after a strong challenge but faded after the final hurdle. Commonwealth Games champion Janieve Russell rounded out the Jamaican sweep, securing third place with a season-best 55.07.
Clayton, whose time of 53.72 is fastest in the world this year was happy with the win.
"I have never expected the conditions like that but nevertheless, it was a good race. My execution felt well and I cannot ask for more than to win. It is always good to win. Each race is a challenge and I am working towards a bigger goal," she said breathlessly afterward.
"So whenever these ladies decide to compete, I will be there to do the same, to compete. My next plans: to train, train, train... and I need to do the national championships. I am literally training through all these meets. I have training tomorrow, the next day, I do what my coach decides. It is hurting. My main goal - to get to the Olympics and to win a medal. My last and ultimate goal of the season."
The men's 400m hurdles race lived up to the hype, even with the late withdrawal of world-leading Rai Benjamin with a niggle. Brazilian star Alison dos Santos seized the opportunity, delivering a world-leading time of 46.63 to claim victory. Dos Santos put immense pressure on world record holder Karsten Warholm, who stumbled at the final hurdle, allowing the Brazilian to surge ahead. Warholm finished second in 46.70, the same time he clocked when he set the world record in 2021.
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Excited by how well he performed, the Brazilian confidently stated that there is even more to come from him this season.
"It felt good and I loved this track, the people and the energy. It is always good to come here, to come out and be able to win. It was a tough race but I wanted to show I am there, I am ready and in good shape and that I can go even faster," he remarked.
"I was excited about this race and now I am excited about the next one to see how much I can do. The conditions were like a bit wet but it is the same for everyone. I just had to keep the mindset that I wanted to win. And I am proud that I managed to win."
With the likes of Benjamin to join the battle later this summer, Dos Santos said he is anticipating incredible performances in Paris.
"It is going to be amazing in Paris 2024. I am so excited about the things I can do. Everything before Paris is just a preparation for that. So it is going to be like awesome. Only thing I can say is just: Watch!"
In the women's 400m, Marileidy Paulino showcased her class, winning in a season-best 49.30. Paulino led the race from start to finish, pulling away from Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, who finished second with a season-best 49.80. The USA’s Alexis Holmes took third place in 50.40. Notably, Sada Williams of Barbados finished fifth in a season-best 50.71.
Paulino was pleased with her performance. "I felt good tonight. I thought the weather conditions would be unpleasant but it turned out nice. I am training hard in order to be able to do these times at the right time. I would like to improve the second part of my race."
Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith dominated the men's 400m, clocking an impressive 44.07, the second-fastest time in the world this year. Olympic champion Kirani James was a distant second in 44.58, followed closely by Vernon Norwood, who finished third in 44.68.
Shericka Jackson, who had been aiming to improve on her 22.82 performance in Rabat, struggled in the 200m, finishing fifth with a time of 22.97. The race was won by the USA’s Brittany Brown, who edged out Marie-Josée Ta Lou at the line with a time of 22.32. Ta Lou also set a season-best of 22.36, demonstrating her strong form this season. Daryll Neita finished third with her best time this season, clocking 22.50.
Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin delivered another sub-two-minute performance in the women's 800m, finishing second with her fastest time this season at 1:59.10. South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso won the race with a time of 1:58.66, while Catriona Bissett of Australia took third in 1:59.29.
The Bislett Games provided a mix of highs and lows for the athletes, with standout performances in the 400m and 400m hurdles capturing the attention of the nearly full house at Bislett Stadium. As the Diamond League continues, athletes like Clayton and Paulino will look to build on their successes, while Jackson aims to regroup and refocus ahead of the Paris Olympics.
All systems ready for sixth Racers Grand Prix on Saturday
As the sixth edition of the Racers Grand Prix ticks closer, preparations are in full swing to ensure a seamless, world-class experience for athletes and spectators alike at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Racers Grand Prix CEO Devon Blake shared his vision for this year’s event, as the team behind the event is executing meticulous planning and coordination.
“The goal is to produce a world-class meet showcasing Jamaica’s capacity to develop and attract premier athletes in track and field. We actively maintain the best team of professionals, engage with invested sponsors, focus on athlete comfort, all in order to create an amazing fan experience," Blake said.
Despite the economic challenges, the meet that started in 2016, has retained inception sponsors like Adidas, Television Jamaica, KFC, and Digicel, while also attracting new sponsors.
Blake highlighted the importance of community engagement, stating, “There are advanced plans for fan engagement and a fan experience ensuring the meet positively impacts both the athletes and the local community.”
Swaneka Phillips of Main Event Production provided insight into the logistical efforts and the importance of high-quality production elements.
“Set-up begins a week prior to the event. Our trucks leave our warehouse laden with equipment, materials, a sizable crew and a number of co-ordinators to ensure everything goes smoothly. Once on site, our team springs into action like a well-oiled machine, completing tasks in tandem according to our worklist,” Phillips explained.
“We pride ourselves on our top-of-the-line inventory of world-class equipment, as well as our highly trained and skilled technicians. To enhance this year’s experience, we are implementing enhanced 4mm LED screen technology, which allows for higher definition, crisper images with better contrast and lighting," she added.
Meanwhile, Bruce James, chairman of World Class Athletics Limited, discussed the critical role of the Roster Athletic system that will be used on Saturday night.
“The combination of the Roster Athletics data processing system and our FinishLynx cameras is crucial to providing fast, accurate results. We use a three-camera system for track meets like the Racers Grand Prix to capture the athletes as they cross the finish line. The system integrates directly, making it seamless from start to finish,” James outlined.
James said the rigorous preparation starts well before any athlete reaches the track.
“Before the meet, we ensure all athletes are entered in the correct heat and lane, with all their statistics available. This data is loaded into the Roster Athletics system well before the event, so athletes, coaches, and spectators have all the necessary information readily available," he noted.
The Racers Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available for purchase online and at select outlets.
Other sponsors for the event include Adidas Sports Development Foundation, Gatorade, JN Bank, and the Airport Authority of Jamaica.
First individual Olympic gold and 200m world record among Shericka Jackson’s goals for 2024
Two-time 200m world champion Shericka Jackson is setting her sights on her first individual Olympic gold medal this summer in Paris and and a shot at the 200m world record by the end of the season. Speaking at a media conference in Oslo on Wednesday, Jackson shared her ambitions ahead of her competition in the Diamond League meeting later today.
Jackson, who broke her own championship record of 21.45 seconds set in Oregon in 2022 with a stunning 21.41 at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, has consistently demonstrated her prowess on the track. She further solidified her status with a 21.48 run at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels and concluded her season with a 21.57 at the Prefontaine Classic, securing the Diamond League double by also winning the 100m in 10.70.
Reflecting on her pursuit of the elusive 200m world record of 21.39, set by American Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988, Jackson revealed her and her coach's meticulous approach. “Coach and I have been working on so many things this year. Last year we came close, we also did an attempt at I think it was Brussels and it went pretty well. This year we’re working on the fine details and hope for the best at the end of this season,” she said.
Jackson's Olympic journey has seen its share of highs and lows. At the Tokyo Olympics, she was a gold medal favorite in the 200m but was eliminated in the preliminary round due to a mistimed run. However, she redeemed herself by securing a gold medal as part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team. For the Paris Olympics, Jackson is determined to claim her first individual Olympic gold medal.
“I am yet to have an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games so that’s one of my goals this year to work hard and hoping to achieve that at the end of August,” said Jackson, who also stated that she is aiming for a season’s best run later today after her opening 200m run of 22.82 in Rabat on May 19.
“I am definitely looking forward to a season’s best but for me it’s building to the Jamaica trials, which comes up next month and I think it’s one step at a time. Once I finish healthy tomorrow, I am better shape than I was two weeks ago so I am looking forward to great things.”
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