Shericka Jackson, the standout Jamaican athlete, found herself in the spotlight at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston, last Friday, where she was crowned Jamaica’s Sportswoman of the Year.
The accolades poured in, celebrating her outstanding achievements in 2023, yet amid the joy and recognition, there was a touch of sadness as she wished her mother could have been present to share in the special moment.
“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 expressed, acknowledging the significance of the award and the unwavering support she received from her friends.
Pinnacle of Jackson’s remarkable 2023
The pinnacle of Jackson’s remarkable 2023 was her dazzling performance in the 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she secured her second world title with an extraordinary time of 21.41 seconds. This achievement 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.
In discussions with the media, Jackson, holding a collection of trophies, shared her aspirations for the year 2024. She expressed her desire to elevate her performance even further, despite the exceptional year she had just experienced. However, she acknowledged the challenges posed by suboptimal wind conditions in 2023, which hindered her pursuit of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing world record of 21.34 seconds, set in 1988.
Notably, at the World Championships in Budapest, her winning time of 21.41 seconds was achieved under virtually still conditions, with the wind measured at just 0.1m/s. Similarly, when she ran 21.48 seconds in Belgium, the wind was recorded at 0.2m/s. Her time of 21.57 seconds in Oregon during the Diamond League final was clocked with a wind speed of 0.3m/s.
Elusive world record
When questioned about the elusive world record, Jackson acknowledged the influence of wind conditions but maintained a pragmatic outlook. She stated, “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 fiercely determined to improve, 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.”
