Jamaican Shericka Jackson Wins the 200, Clocking the Second-Fastest Time Ever (Published 2022)
- ️Fri Jul 22 2022
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica finished with silver, and Dina Asher-Smith of Britain finished in third.
- July 21, 2022
Horns blared and green, black and yellow Jamaican flags dominated the stands at Hayward Field ahead of the women’s 200-meter final Thursday night in Eugene, Ore.
It was almost as if the fans knew what was coming.
Shericka Jackson delivered for the Jamaican-favoring crowd as she became the country’s fifth 200 world champion. She crossed the finish line in 21.45 seconds, the second-fastest time ever. Jackson and Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States are the only two women to break 21.50 seconds. Jackson, who is typically reserved and stoic after races, let out a scream and hugged teammates after seeing her time.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica finished with silver, and Dina Asher-Smith of Britain finished in third. The Jamaicans did miss out on the sweep they had in the 100, with Elaine Thompson-Herah, last summer’s Olympic gold medalist in the 200, finishing seventh.
Jackson is the first Jamaican 200-meter world champion since Fraser-Pryce took the title in 2013. The Americans Abby Steiner and Tamara Clark finished fifth and sixth, respectively. This is Jackson’s first individual gold medal at the World Athletics Championships.
Afterward, Jackson rattled through her eventful evening.
“First gold medal, national record, personal best and a championship,” she said. “I’m so grateful.”
Jackson, 28, seemed destined for gold after winning the 200 at the Jamaican national championships last month in what was then the third-fastest time ever. She had an Olympic bronze and two world championship bronze medals in the 400 before she switched to shorter distances in 2021.