Jackson among the entries for Queen’s meet

National women’s 200 metres champion and record holder Shericka Jackson has entered the 60 metres at the 2025 Queen’s- Grace Jackson Invitational meet and could be in action on the track tomorrow for the first time since mid-2024.

The world 200m champion skipped the Queen’s meet last year and missed most of the season due to injury. She went to the 2024 Paris Olympics but pulled out of both the 100 and 200 metres.

“Shericka has been entered for the meet to contest the women’s 60m and normally this is the meet she usually opens with and we are looking forward to see her here,” said Olive McNaughton co-founder and chief organiser of the meet. Britain’s Zharnel Hughes of Racers Track Club, will run in the men’s 60m.

She said all is in place for the 23rd staging of the meet at the National Stadium.

“Despite some earlier challenges including a wait and see to get the use of the National Stadium, all is set for tomorrow’s staging of the meet,” said McNaughton, who stated that more than 1,800 athletes from high schools, clubs and institutions are down to participate.

She also stated that they had faced a huge challenge to get sponsorship for the meet.

“It was really a challenge to get sponsorship but we have overcome this and we are looking forward to a very exciting day of competition as high school athletes seek qualification standards for the March 25-29 ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships,” she added.

ENTRIES

Kingston College, Jamaica College, Calabar High and St Jago High are the top boys’ schools who have sent in entries for the meet while the likes of Immaculate Conception High, Wolmer’s Girls, St Jago and the host team will be the leading girls’ teams at the meet.

Several senior athletes from local institutions and clubs including MVP, SprinTec, Swept, Racers, The Mico University College and University of Technology will also be in attendance.

McNaughton stated that there will be three honourees at this year’s staging. They are RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation National Sportsman of the Year Roje Stona and Sportswoman of the Year Shanieka Ricketts, and Queen’s past student Jascinth Royal, a member of the organising committee of the meet for more than 20 years.

“We are happy to recognise all three individuals and I must say that Stona is the under-20 discus record holder for the meet, and Ricketts is also the record holder in the women’s triple jump,” she shared.

The meet will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Class Three girls’ 400m and ends at 6:54 p.m. with the men’s 60m.