Fastest 200m woman alive, Shericka Jackson, described Saturday as a “special and awesome day” after receiving an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Technology at their graduation ceremony.

“It was truly a special and awesome day yesterday (Saturday). I am grateful and happy to be conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UTECH,” Jackson said in an Instagram post on Sunday.

“It is indeed a big moment. I sincerely want to thank all who were involved in the nominating process for making this moment possible. To my amazing family, friends, sponsors and supporters, thank you for the unconditional love and support. I appreciate it very much. Thank you, Dr. Shericka Jackson,” she added.

The 29-year-old successfully defended her 200m world title in Budapest in August with a 21.41 effort, the second fastest time in history.

“The rewards for working diligently, persevering and focused can come from unexpected sources,” Jackson explained before offering some encouraging words to her fans.

“Be encouraged. If your faith is strong, there is always hope for you. There are many ways for each of us to contribute towards building a better nation and encourage everyone to pursue their dreams no matter what the circumstance,” she added.

Jackson was named recently by World Athletics as one of five finalists for the 2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year award.