“Shericka Jackson into the home straight. She has put her stamp on this event. She’s going to go back-to-back for Jamaica. The first since Marlene Ottey. And she crosses in 21.41. Wow, that is a meet record…” This is how the commentator announced that Shericka Jackson had won the 200m at the 2023 World Championship, defending her 2022 crown, the first Jamaican woman since Merlene Ottey to do so. But there is a lot more to this performance by the Jamaican, probably even a sad fact as well.

Her 21.41s run not only secured her the gold medal but also surpassed the previous championship record of 21.64 seconds, set by Ottey in 1991, and brought her closer to Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 21.34 seconds. Jackson was the second-fastest woman in the 200m after FloJo, and the commentators were right to say, “She is getting closer to FloJo’s world record.” The problem is that she isn’t.

Track and field personality Erin Brown pointed out on August 25, “2 years later can’t even break 22🕊️😭”, quoting a video of Shericka from Budapest. The last time the Jamaican clocked a sub-22 in the 200m was at the Prefoantine Classic in 2023, where she outrun Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith (22.10s) and Anthonique Strachan (22.16s) with the only sub-22 of the race, i.e, 21.57. That was also her last 200m of the 2023 season.

What’s even sadder is that her times after 2023 have been closer to 23 seconds rather than 21 seconds. The only time she came under 22.5 last season was at the Jamaican championships, clocking 22.29. Otherwise, it was all 22.5+ in five out of six 200m races in 2024. Not to remind, the 36.29s at the Gyulai István Memorial.

She was leading the race but pulled up with discomfort just before the finish line and limped off the track, finishing last. And due to this, she had to pull out of the 200m at the Paris Olympics as well. In 2025, she has raced in three 200m races with no sub-22, but there has been a sub-22.5, her fastest time since 2023. 

Shericka Jackson sends a strong message after her fastest time since 2023

Silesia Diamond League – Women’s 200m, the commentator announced, “Shericka Jackson, who’s strong over 400, has got some running to do just yet. But here she comes in the pink. The Jamaican in lane six. Easing away, but they’re coming back at her.” They did. They tried to go past her, but they could not.

The Jamaican, this late in the season, just before the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, clocked a season best of 22.17s, coming in 4th. After the race, she said, “We are back! It has been a while, and it has been a journey. Getting here was a rollercoaster with missed flights, but I made it! I have not run a curve this hard since 2023.” This was the fastest she has run since September 2023.

She further added, “Last year was a disappointment, but now mentally I am here, and I am strong. I want to thank everyone who helped me achieve it. I am in a competitive training group now, the other girls are strong, and I enjoy that. I like to compete against strong opposition.” After missing the sub-22s, the injury in Gyulai István Memorial, and the pullout from Paris, everything took a toll on Shericka Jackson’s mental health.

But now she is showing great signs of a comeback. Now, considering she would be going up against Melissa-Jeffsron Wooden in the Tokyo World Championship, what are your predictions for the Jamaican?