‘I’m in way better shape’
Jackson using Diamond League for National Champs prep
Published:Thursday | May 30, 2024 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
WORLD CHAMPION Shericka Jackson says she is in much better shape than she was two weeks ago when she opened her half-lap season at the Le Grande Stade in Marrakech on May 19.
Jackson was speaking at a press conference yesterday ahead of today’s Bislett Games, the sixth stop on the Wanda Diamond League tour in Oslo, Norway.
On May 19, Jackson, though winning in 22.82 seconds, could not separate herself from the challenge of Cote d’Ivoire’s Maboundou Kone, 22.96.
Today, Jackson is aiming at bettering that performance with a view to performing well at the June 27 national championships.
“My aim is just to go out there and compete at my best. I’m definitely looking forward to a season’s best but I’m also building to Jamaica trials which comes up next month and I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m in way better shape than I was in two weeks ago, so I’m looking forward to great things,” said Jackson.
Jackson should expect challenge from the likes of Britain’s Daryll Neita, Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Talou-Smith and America’s Brittany Brown, who holds the fastest time this year in the field.
The 29-year-old Jackson, the fastest woman of all time in the event, reiterated that Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 21.34 is still something she and coach, Paul Francis, have their eyes on.
“Coach and I have been working on so many things and last year we came close. This year we’ll be working on the fine details as we hope for the best at the end of this season,” said Jackson.
With seven national titles, three Diamond League titles, four World Championship gold medals already in the trophy cabinet, Jackson revealed that adding an individual Olympic gold medal to her collection is on her bucket list with the Paris Games fast approaching.
“I’m yet to have an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games, so that’s definitely one of my goals this year and I’m working to achieve that at the end of August.”
Other Jamaicans on show include Rusheen McDonald in the men’s 400 metres, Fedrick Dacres in the men’s discus throw, Rohan Watson and Yohan Blake in the men’s 100 metres, Natoya Goule-Toppin in the women’s 800 metres, as well as the trio of Andrenette Knight, Rushell Clayton and Janieve Russell in the women’s 400-metre hurdles.
Clayton, the world leader with 53.72 seconds and who is unbeaten after two starts, including her Diamond League opener in Marakkech, is favoured to come out on top with only Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova, who has a personal best of 52.96 seconds. Ryzhykova, though, has not gone faster than 55 seconds this year, with only Knight and Norway’s Amalie Iuel dipping below the mark this season.