Shericka Jackson defeated a top-tier field and successfully defended her world title in Budapest on Friday by running the second-fastest women’s 200m time in history.
In Budapest on Friday, Shericka Jackson defeated a top-tier competition and ran the second-fastest women’s 200m time in history to reclaim the world title. The 29-year-old Jamaican’s triumph was never in question as she ran an excellent bend to approach the straight with a commanding lead and won in an astounding 21.41 seconds. Olympic bronze medalist for the USA Gabby Thomas won the silver medal in 21.81 seconds, while her fellow countrywoman Sha’Carri Richardson ran a personal best to take home the bronze to go with the gold she so impressively won in the 100 metres.
Jackson had to settle for silver in the 100 metres behind Richardson, so this was some delicious retaliation.
Her performance was only seven hundredths of a second slower than the world record set in 1988 by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, indicating that she might someday surpass it.
According to Jackson, “what you would probably call a disappointment” is something that athletes must overcome.
“Winning 100 and 200 games was one of my primary objectives this season. It never happened. It’s not meant to happen, I said.
“I feel like I did really well tonight. Ah, it’s 21.41; I’m getting there; I’m getting to where I want to be, and tonight was a living example of the proverb “never give up.”
“Especially for my community, I’m pretty proud. I saw my mother become really upset and excited.
When told that Merlene Ottey, who won the 200-meter race in 1993 and then won gold the following year, was the last Jamaican to defend her championship, she appeared astonished.
Long-standing rumours that doping was a factor in Griffith-Joyner’s success have cast a shadow over her record, but Jackson said she would not pass judgement. I cannot comment on any world records if a person has never failed a test, as I stated last year. I don’t hold the record for the world.
“Remained calm”
The Jamaican, who transitioned from the 400m to the 800m in 2021 after winning bronze at the Olympic and world championships, exploded from her blocks and sucked both Thomas and Richardson inside her. Richardson somewhat rallied to past Julien Alfred while Thomas was unable to make any headway as they accelerated down the straight.
The 23-year-old Richardson is the first American woman since Carmelita Jeter at the 2011 championships in Daegu to win world medals in both sprints. “My goal was to end up in the final of both events so doing that was already mission accomplished for me,” Richardson said.
“However, being able to win the 100-meter race and earn a medal in the 200-meter race is a dream come true. Having failed to meet the requirements for the team last year,
“My talent is unfathomable.”
When Thomas witnessed her race and Jackson’s impressive performance on the big screen, she acknowledged being in awe.
When I later looked at the screen, I was in shock. I ran my race and remained calm, so I’m pleased to get silver,” the American remarked.
Thomas stated that she was still planning to compete in both the 4×100 final on Saturday and the 4×400 final on Sunday.
The Harvard alumnus described it as “an amazing feeling” to have returned and earned a medal after missing the global championships the previous year due to a hamstring ailment. It’s a wonderful feeling, she remarked.
A second medal in a world championship is fantastic. I arrived here in the best possible physical and mental condition, which is good.
Dina Asher-Smith of Britain, the 2019 champion, could only place seventh, and Ta Lou of Ivory Coast came in eighth. The USA women’s 200m title drought now spans more than a decade, beginning with Alysson Felix’s third straight triumph in Berlin in 2009.
The 4x100m relay on Saturday will feature a third meeting between Jackson and Richardson at these championships.
