Shericka Jackson stood under the spotlight on Friday night at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston, basking in the glory of being crowned Jamaica's Sportswoman of the Year. As the accolades poured in, marking her exceptional achievements in 2023, Jackson expressed her gratitude for the recognition but couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment that her mother couldn't share the special moment with her.
“It's definitely special. It's my first time winning Sportswoman of the Year, so it's definitely special. All my friends are here. Unfortunately, my mommy couldn't make it, but all my friends are here and I'm grateful," Jackson said, acknowledging the significance of the award and the support she received from her friends.
The highlight of Jackson's remarkable year in 2023 was her stunning performance in the 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she clinched her second world title with an incredible time of 21.41. This marked the second-fastest time ever recorded in the event, surpassing her own championship record of 21.45 set at the World Championships in Oregon in 2022.
Speaking with the media afterwards, Jackson holding an armful of trophies, shared her aspirations for 2024, expressing her desire to be even better than the phenomenal year she had just experienced. However, she acknowledged the challenges posed by less-than-ideal wind conditions in 2023, hindering her pursuit of Florence Griffith-Joyner's world record of 21.34 set in 1988.
At the World Championships in Budapest, her winning time of 21.41 was done in virtual still conditions with the wind measured at 0.1m/s. In Belgium, when she ran 21.48, the wind was 0.2m/s. The 21.57 she ran in Oregon to win the Diamond League final was with a 0.3m/s wind.
When asked about the elusive world record, Jackson acknowledged the role of wind but maintained a pragmatic outlook. "You can't predict the weather, you know. You just have to show up, and as I said, once I'm healthy, if I get some good wind, then definitely (I will break the record). But you can't predict which weather you're going to get on the day, so it's just one step at a time, and if the world record comes, then definitely a plus."
Despite her phenomenal success, Jackson remains hungry for improvement, emphasizing her relentless work ethic. "I know what it feels like to be fourth, fifth, third. So, therefore, working hard is not something I back away from. I think I'm doing that and working extra hard to maintain where I am and to get better is something I look forward to."
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Smith produces season’s best to win long jump at Texas Invitational
Texas junior Ackelia Smith produced an NCAA leading performance to take top spot on day one of the Texas Invitational at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday.
The 22-year-old reigning NCAA champion produced a season’s best 7.10m, her first jump over 7m this season, to win ahead of Trinidadian Puma athlete Tyra Gittens (6.72m) and UTSA’s Ida Breigan (6.65m).
This is a welcome return to form for Smith who suffered a torn hamstring at the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.
Smith was Jamaica’s national champion in the long jump in 2022 and was a finalist in both the long and triple jump at that year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Paulino extends 400m winning streak to seven in Shanghai
Dom Rep’s Marileidy Paulino followed up her triumph at the season’s Diamond League opener in Xiamen last week with another victory at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday.
The reigning World champion produced 50.89 to win ahead of American Talitha Diggs who ran 51.77 and Bajan two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams who ran 52.00 in third.
Paulino’s winning streak in the 400m has now stretched to seven races.
It was déjà vu in the women’s 100m hurdles as reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho Quinn just pipped World Indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder Devynne Charlton on the line, just as it played out in Xiamen last week.
Camacho-Quinn ran 12.63 compered to Charlton’s 12.64. Two-time World champion Danielle Williams was third in 12.74.
The men’s 110m hurdles saw American Daniel Roberts get his second win in a row to kick off the Diamond League season. His winning time was 13.12, comfortably ahead of Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23) and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment’s season’s best 13.26.
Edwin Allen second in Champions of America girls’ 4x800m as Union Catholic sets National Record
Edwin Allen had to settle for second position in the Championships of America high school girls’ 4x800m, as they were soundly beaten by New Jersey-based favourites Union Catholic in the final on day two of the 128th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.
Not only did Union Catholic defend their title, but the team of Jimmiea King, Peyton Hollis, Sophia Thompson, and Paige Sheppard did so in emphatic fashion, clocking a National Record of 8:41.20. They lowered the previous mark of 8:43.12 set in 2008 by Roosevelt.
Edwin Allen’s quartet of Tanesia Gardiner, Monique Stewart, Kevongaye Fowler, and Rickeisha Simms, gave a credible effort in second at 8:50.76, while Virginia-based South Lakes (8:50.8), were third.
The other Jamaican schools, Holmwood Technical (8:58.94) and Alphansus Davis (9:13.83), placed fifth and ninth respectively.
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