The lifetime best 200m time also moved her above Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas as the best active combination sprinter in history by virtue of her times of 10.76 in the 100m, 21.55 and 49.47 in the 400m.
Only East Germany’s Marita Koch (10.83/21.71/47.60), Griffith-Joyner (10.49/21.34/50.89) and Marion Jones (10.65/21.62/49.59) are ranked higher than the affable Jamaica sprinter, who revealed that the jaw-dropping run on Sunday that left Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (22.05) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (22.140 trailing in her wake, was the result of a lot of hard work.
“I have been working really hard on running the curve. I wanted to do that and I know that once I ran that curve and execute properly, just to relax down the home stretch, I knew I would have run fast but this fast I never expected it but I am grateful,” she said afterwards.
The bad news for the rest of the world is that Jackson believes she has even more speed in those powerful legs of hers, the speed that the world is likely to see at the World Athletics Championships that begin in Eugene, Oregon on July 15.
“The curve is one of the things I want to master. I think I did pretty good tonight. So many mistakes made so I know definitely coach will correct them,” she said.
“I never wanted to put any pressure on myself. People out there will put pressure but listening to my coach, execute properly, I know I can go faster.”
Nugent, the reigning World U20 champion, is the second fastest Jamaican woman in the world this year after running a personal best of 12.45 at the Big 12 Championships at Lubbock, Texas on May 15. Only fellow Jamaican, Demisha Roswell of Texas Tech, who ran 12.44 to beat Nugent at the Big 12 Conference Championships, has run faster this season.
The 20-year-old Nugent, a sophomore at Baylor University revealed on social media Thursday that the severity of the injury makes it impossible for her to carry on this season.
“With my ankle, this year has been a roller coaster but that has never stopped me from going out there and giving it my all,” she posted on Instagram.
“As a fighter, you have to know when to stop fighting and let go and I just wanted to let you know my season is over. I will not be competing in the NCAA Championship not will I be competing in the national senior trials this year.
“However, God has helped me along the way to have accomplished my main goal this year and I am at peace.”
Nugent’s absence will take away from the much-anticipated clashes at the NCAA Championships against the likes of the LSU pair of Alia Armstrong and Tonea Marshall as well as Roswell.
At the Jamaica National Senior Championships, she would have faced Roswell as well as 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Megan Tapper.
Nelson, a senior at the University of Oregon, ran a personal best of 10.88 to finish second to Shericka Jackson, who ran a season-best 10.77 to secure her first national 100m title. Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah was third in 10.89 while Briana Williams ran a new lifetime best of 10.94 for fourth.
The key, she said, was to execute her race plan. “Once I execute the time will come,” she said.
Nelson, who won the silver medal behind Julien Alfred at the NCAA Division I Championships in Oregon earlier this month, explained that the more than 25-minute delay at the start did affect her but she was able to regain her composure ahead of the eventual start and that also paid off for her. She credits the advice of Coach Robert Johnson at Oregon for helping in that regard.
“Coach Johnson has always said to be things don’t only affect me, it affects all seven other athletes. It’s just for me to regroup because it’s bad for everybody but don’t let bad stop me from what I came here to do.”
Naturally, Nelson was ecstatic afterwards, sharing hugs first with Jackson and then family and friends afterwards in celebration of the achievement of making her first World Championships team.
“It means a lot to me. Coach has always believed in me, knows that I could do it, a little girl from Mobay living her dream,” she said, indicating that her decision to leave the University of Technology and enrol at the University of Oregon has been a key factor in her development.
“One of the best decisions I ever made in my life,” she said.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics 100m bronze medallist sped to a world-leading 21.55s in still conditions to complete the sprint double and announce herself as a gold medal favourite for the World Championships in Oregon in three weeks’ time.
Jackson won the 100m in a season-best 10.77 on Friday night.
In her wake was the Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who ran a season-best 22.05 and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who finished third in 22.14.
Afterwards, Jackson said she and her coach will have a look at the tape as she made several mistakes in the race that yielded the third fastest time in history. Only Florence Griffiths-Joyner’s 21.34 and Thompson-Herah’s 21.53 national record are faster than Jackson’s new lifetime best.
There was an upset in the men’s race that brought the curtains down on the championships as Andrew Hudson outraced Yohan Blake to the line and won in 20.10 to Blake’s 20.31. Finishing third was Nigel Ellis in 20.41.
Earlier, Britany Anderson emerged victorious in a close 100m hurdles battle with 2021 champion Megan Tapper, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist.
The 21-year-old Anderson clocked 12.53 holding off Tapper who clocked a season-best 12.60 for second place. 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams was third in 12.66.
As expected, Hansle Parchment won the 110m hurdles in 13.12 over Rasheed Broadbell (13.20) and Orlando Bennett (13.28). Omar McLeod, the 2016 Olympic champion and 2017 World Champion, finished eighth in 13.54.
That delay, she said, impacted her performance as she finished third in the race won by Shericka Jackson in a season-best 10.77. Kemba Nelson ran a personal best of 10.88 to also finish ahead of the fastest woman alive, who claimed third in 10.89.
Thompson-Herah, who has run as fast as 10.79 this season, could not hide her disappointment afterwards.
“Oh yes, I am disappointed. I came out here ready to run the finals. However, there was a delay which was not our fault. We warmed up and it is not like a training session where you can just go through the motion,” she said.
“Honestly, I almost walked out but I still had to qualify but when I drove out I felt very flat because of the amount of time that I stood out there and I just hung on for the third. I didn’t even know I came third, I just fought for the line and I qualified so thanks be to God, I am grateful.”
She explained that her disappointment was compounded because she wanted Jamaica to see that she was in great shape as she prepares to claim what would be her first world title in Eugene, Oregon next month.
“I am feeling really good. Coming out here today I wanted to show that but it didn’t work out because of those technical difficulties,” she said.
“I am disappointed about that but I am healthy so I will move on to the 200m tomorrow (Saturday).
