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Shericka Jackson
Shericka Jackson
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Shericka Jackson (born 16 July 1994)[3] is a Jamaican sprinter competing in the 60 m, 100 m, 200 m, and 400 metres. In the 100 m, she is the sixth fastest woman of all time (tied with Marion Jones and Sha'Carri Richardson), while in the 200 m, she is the second fastest woman in history.

Key Information

Jackson started her career as a 400 m sprinter, winning individual bronze medals at the 2015 World Championships, 2016 Rio Olympics, and 2019 World Championships. At these competitions, she won silver in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 2016 Olympics, then gold and bronze respectively at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships. At the 2019 Championships, she also won gold in the 4 × 100 m relay.

After Jackson shifted to shorter sprints in 2021 she won bronze in the 100 m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, also adding a gold in the 4 × 100 m relay. At the 2022 World Championships, she won gold in the 200 m setting a new national record, whilst also winning silver in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay. She was the 2022 Diamond League 200 m champion. The following year, she retained her 200 m title at the 2023 World Championships, running in 21.41 s, the second-fastest time in history. She also won silver medals in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relays.

Jackson is the first athlete in World Championship history to win medals in the 100, 200 and 400 metres, including the 4 × 100 and 4 × 400 metres relays. She is also the second athlete in history, behind Marita Koch to win medals in the 100, 200, 400, 4 × 100 and 4 × 400 metres at the World Championships and/or the Olympic Games. With her personal bests of 10.65 s in the 100 m, 21.41 s in the 200 m and 49.47 s in the 400 m, she is one of few women to reach high marks in all three events. Jackson has run five of the world's 10 fastest 200 m times – second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth.

Background

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Jackson was born in Saint Ann, Jamaica. She participated in track and field at Steer Town Academy and Vere Technical schools. At age 14, she represented Jamaica at the 2008 CARIFTA Games.[4]

Career

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2008-2014: Early career

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By 2009, Jackson had won age-group gold medals at the CARIFTA Games and the CACAC Junior Championships.[citation needed] She placed in the 200 m finals of the 2010 Youth Olympics, 2011 World Youth Championships (third), and the 2012 World Junior Championships.[5][6][7]

In 2014, Jackson made her first professional appearance for Jamaica, competing in the 4 × 400 m relay at the inaugural World Relays in Nassau, winning a silver medal.[8]

2015-2016: Breakthrough, World and Olympic medals

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At the Jamaican Championships in June, Jackson improved her 400 m personal best to 50.31 s to finish second and secure her place at the World Championships in Beijing.[3] She followed it up by winning over 200 m at the Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern meet in Lucerne, with a time of 22.87 s.[9]

At the World Championships, Jackson won a shock bronze medal in the 400 m, running 49.99 s, her first sub-50 clocking.[10] In the 4 × 400 m relay, Jackson was part of the Jamaican quartet that won gold over the United States.[11]

The following year, in June, Jackson ran her first sub-51 clocking of the season to win at the Racers Grand Prix in 50.72 s.[12] At the Jamaican Championships, she finished third over 400 m to secure her place at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[13]

At the Olympics, Jackson took the bronze medal over 400 m, finishing behind Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Allyson Felix in 49.85 s.[14] She had previously ran a new personal best of 49.83 s in the heats.[15] She followed her strong performance up by winning a silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.[16] On 9 September, at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, she finished fourth over 400 m in 50.73 s.[17]

2017-2020: Continued success

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In April, Jackson ran a new 200 m personal best of 22.57 s at the UTech Classic in Kingston.[18] Later that month, she won a gold medal in the 4 × 200 m relay at the World Relays in Yokohama.[19]

Jackson continued her strong form by winning over 400 m at the Jamaican Championships in a season's best of 50.05 s.[20] At the World Championships in London, she finished fifth in the 400 m final in 50.76 s.[21] She once again improved her 200 m personal best to 22.46 s at the ISTAF Berlin meet on 27 August.[22][23] At the Diamond League Final in Brussels, Jackson finished fifth over 400 m clocking a time of 51.16 s.[24]

Jackson holding flowers
Jackson after winning over 200 m at the Paris Diamond League

In 2018, she competed at the Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast in April, winning a silver medal over 200 m, running a personal best of 22.18 s.[25] At the Jamaican Championships, Jackson dropped down in distance to finish third over 100 m in a personal best of 11.13 s,[26] before winning the 200 m in a time of 22.28 s.[27] She followed it up by recording her first ever Diamond League win in Paris, emerging victorious over 200 m in a personal best of 22.05 s.[28][29]

At the inaugural Athletics World Cup held in London, Jackson won gold over 200 m in 22.35 s and silver in the 4 × 100 m relay.[30][31] In August, she competed at the NACAC Championships, also winning gold over 200 m and silver in the 4 × 100 m relay.[32][33] At the Diamond League Final, she finished fourth in the 200 m in 22.72 s.[34] Jackson also finished fourth over the same distance at the Continental Cup in Prague, clocking 22.62 s.[35]

In May 2019, Jackson competed at the World Relays in Yokohama, winning a bronze medal in the 4 × 200 m relay.[36] Later that year in June, she finished second over her specialist 400 m distance at the Rome Diamond League, running a time of 51.05 s.[37] She competed at the Jamaican Championships later that month, winning the 400 m in a new personal best of 49.78 s.[38] She followed it up with a strong performance to win at the London Diamond League in 50.69 s.[39]

Jackson running with a baton in her hand behind another runner
Jackson behind Justyna Swiety-Ersetic in the 4 × 400 m final at the 2019 World Championships

At the Pan American Games in Lima, Jackson won the 400 m in 50,78 s, pulling away from Paola Moran and Courtney Okolo in the last 100 m to secure her victory.[40][41] She followed her success up by competing at the World Championships in Doha, winning a bronze medal in the 400 m in a new personal best of 49.47 s.[42][43] In the 4 × 100 m relay, Jackson anchored Jamaica to win her first World Championship gold medal,[44] whilst also winning her second bronze medal of the Championships in the 4 × 400 m relay.[45]

2021: Switch to short sprints and 100 m Olympic bronze medal

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Under the guidance of renowned coach Stephen Francis, Jackson switched to the 100 m and 200 m sprints for the 2021 season.[46] On 29 May, she ran a new 100 m personal best of 11.02 s at the Olympic Destiny Series 2 meet in Kingston.[47] At the Jamaican Olympic Trials, she finished second in the 100 m behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a time of 10.82 s, having run a personal best of 10.77 s in the semi-finals.[48][49] Meanwhile, in the 200 m, Jackson once again finished second behind Fraser-Pryce in a personal best of 21.82 s, her first time under the 22-second barrier.[50]

She came third in the 100 m at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics with another personal best of 10.76 s, just behind fellow country woman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who clocked 10.74 s. The Jamaicans swept the medal stand in the event for the second time in history as Elaine Thompson-Herah took the gold medal in 10.61 s.[51] In the 200 m, she failed to advance out of the heats after she eased down before the finish line and was passed by Dalia Kaddari for the third automatic qualifying spot by four-thousandths of a second; her time of 23.26 s was not fast enough to earn one of the non-automatic qualifying places.[52][53] She recovered from her disappointment to win the gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay, with the Jamaican quartet running 41.02 s, the second-fastest time ever at the time.[54][55] Jackson also ran in the women's 4 × 400 m relay, winning a bronze medal.[56]

In her first post-Olympic race, Jackson equalled her 100 m personal best of 10.76 s to finish third at the Prefontaine Classic on 21 August, in a Jamaican 1-2-3 with Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.[57] She followed it up with another third place at the Lausanne Diamond League in 10.92 s, finishing behind Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce.[58] Over 200 m, at the Memorial Van Damme on 3 September, she was edged out by Christine Mboma, clocking a time of 21.95 s.[59] At the Diamond League Final, Jackson ran a new 200 m personal best of 21.81 s, narrowly finishing behind Mboma.[60][61]

2022: World 200 m title and NACAC 100 m title

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In March, Jackson competed over 60 m at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, running a personal best of 7.04 s to finish sixth.[62] In her first Diamond League of the season in Doha on 13 May, she finished second behind Gabrielle Thomas over 200 m, in 22.07 s.[63] She followed it up with a third-placed finish at the Prefontaine Classic on 28 May, clocking 10.92 s to finish behind Elaine Thompson-Herah and Sha'Carri Richardson.[64] Jackson won over 200 m at the Rome Diamond League, running a time of 21.91 s.[65] At the Jamaican Championships, she won the 100 m in 10.77 s, only 0.01 s behind her personal best.[66] In the 200 m, she stormed to a new personal best of 21.55 s to win over Thompson-Herah.[67]

Jackson raising an arm with a gold medal draped around her neck
Jackson after winning 200 m at the 2022 World Championships

At the World Championships in Eugene, Jackson won silver over 100 m in a new personal best of 10.73 s, being part of a Jamaican 1-2-3 as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won gold in 10.69 s and Elaine Thompson-Herah won bronze in 10.81 s.[68] She went on to win over 200 m in 21.45 s, setting a new Championship record and moving her up to second on the all-time lists.[69][70] She also competed in the 4 × 100 m, winning a silver medal behind the United States.[71][72]

On 6 August, Jackson won the 200 m at the Silesia Diamond League in 21.84 s.[73] Two days later, she also won over the same distance at the Gyulai István Memorial, running a time of 22.02 s.[74] She improved her 100 m personal best to 10.71 s in finishing second behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the Monaco Diamond League on 10 August.[75] At the 2022 NACAC Championships in Freeport, Jackson won gold in the 100 m, running a Championship record of 10.82 s.[76] She won again at the Brussels Diamond League on 2 September, running 10.73 s over 100 m, her second-fastest time.[77] At the Diamond League Final in Zürich, she finished second behind Fraser-Pryce in the 100 m, running 10.81 s,[78] but she recovered to win the 200 m in 21.80 s.[79]

2023: Second World 200 m title and second-fastest 200 m time

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In her first 100 m of the season, Jackson ran 10.82 s to win at the MVP Velocity Fest 13 meet in Kingston.[80] She finished second behind Sha'Carri Richardson at the Doha Diamond League on 5 May, clocking a time of 10.85 s.[81][82] She continued her good form by winning the 200 m at the Rabat Diamond League, in 21.98 s.[83] On 3 June, Jackson ran a season's best of 10.78 s over 100 m to win at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston.[84] At the Jamaican Championships, Jackson won the 100 m in a new personal best and world lead of 10.65 s, moving her up to fifth on the all-time toplists.[85][86] She returned for the 200 m, winning in 21.71 s, a new world lead.[87] On 21 July, she won over 200 m against a strong field at the Monaco Diamond League, clocking 21.86 s.[88]

Nine runners finish a 100 m race
Jackson finishing in second in the 100 m final at the 2023 World Championships

At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Jackson a silver medal over 100 m, running 10.72 s to finish behind Sha'Carri Richardson who ran 10.65 s.[89] In the 200 m, she retained her gold medal in 21.41 s, the second-fastest time ever and a new Jamaican record.[90][91] Jackson also competed in the 4 × 100 m relay, anchoring Jamaican to the silver medal behind the United States, who were anchored by Richardson.[92]

After the Championships, she secured victory in the 200 m at the Zürich Diamond League, running a time of 21.82 s to win over second-placed Daryll Neita.[93] She won again at the Brussels Diamond League, clocking a new Diamond League record of 21.48 s, her third-fastest time ever and the fourth fastest overall.[94] At the Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16 September, Jackson won over 100 m, clocking 10.70 s to win by 0.05 s from Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith.[95] She returned the following day to also take home the 200 m title, running a meeting record of 21.57 s.[96] Jackson ended the season with six out of the top ten fastest 200 m times of the year.[97]

2024-2025: Injury problems and World Relays bronze

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On 19 May, Jackson won the 200 m at the Marrakesh Diamond League in a time of 22.82 s.[98] She placed a disappointing fifth over 200 m at the Bislett Games, ending her two-year unbeaten streak in the event.[99] She returned to winning ways at the Stockholm Diamond League, running a season's best of 22.69 s despite a -2.0 headwind to beat Julia Henriksson.[100] At the Jamaican Championships, she won the 100 m in 10.84 s,[101] before also taking the 200 m title in 22.29 s, narrowly holding off Lanae-Tava Thomas who ran 22.34 s.[102] However, after pulling up injured in the 200 m at the Gyulai István Memorial,[103] Jackson was forced to withdraw from the Olympics in Paris with injury.[104][105]

The following year, she opened her outdoor season over 300 m at the Miramar Invitational on 5 April, finishing second behind Julien Alfred in a personal best of 36.13 s.[106] She competed at the World Relays in Guangzhou, winning a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m.[107] On 25 May, she won over 100 m at the Rabat Diamond League, clocking a time of 11.04 s.[108] Jackson improved her 200 m season's best to 22.53 s to win at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston on 7 June.[109][110] She placed fourth at the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, behind Julien Alfred, Tina Clayton, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.[111] She won the bronze medal in the 200m at the same champioships in a time of 22.18s.

Achievements

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Three athletes collect their medals
Jackson won 400 m bronze at the 2019 World Championships.

Information from World Athletics profile.[3]

Personal bests

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Event Time (s) Wind (m/s) Venue Date Notes
60 metres 7.23 -1.2 Spanish Town, Jamaica 5 February 2022
60 metres indoor 7.04 N/a Belgrade, Serbia 18 March 2022
100 metres 10.65 +1.0 Kingston, Jamaica 7 July 2023 5th of all time
200 metres 21.41 +0.1 Budapest, Hungary 25 August 2023 NR, 2nd of all time
400 metres 49.47 N/a Doha, Qatar 3 October 2019

International competitions

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Representing  Jamaica
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
2008 CARIFTA Games (U17) Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1st 400 m 54.52
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:39.62
2009 CARIFTA Games (U17) Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia 1st 200 m 23.62
1st 400 m 53.48
1st 4 × 100 m relay 45.05
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:38:09
2010 CARIFTA Games (U18) George Town, Cayman Islands 1st 200 m 23.64 w
2nd 400 m 53.71
1st 4 × 100 m relay 45.98
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:44.02
Central American and Caribbean
Junior Championships
(U18)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1st 200 m 24.23
1st 4 × 100 m relay 45.67
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:43.08
World Junior Championships Moncton, Canada 4th 4 × 100 m relay 44.68 [n 1]
Youth Olympic Games Singapore 4th 200 m 24.08
2011 CARIFTA Games (U20) Montego Bay, Jamaica 2nd 200 m 23.48
1st 4 × 100 m relay 44.08
World Youth Championships Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France 3rd 200 m 23.62
1st Medley relay 2:03.42
2012 CARIFTA Games (U20) Hamilton, Bermuda 3rd 200 m 24.03
2nd 4 × 100 m relay 45.18
Central American and Caribbean
Junior Championships
(U20)
San Salvador, El Salvador 2nd 200 m 23.87
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:37.21
World Junior Championships Barcelona, Spain 8th 200 m 23.53
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:32.97
2013 CARIFTA Games (U20) Nassau, Bahamas 2nd 200 m 22.84
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:34.36
2014 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:23.26
2015 World Championships Beijing, China 3rd 400 m 49.99
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:19.13 WL
2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3rd 400 m 49.85
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:20.34
2017 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 1st 4 × 200 m relay 1:29.04 CR NR
World Championships London, United Kingdom 5th 400 m 50.76
DNF 4 × 400 m relay DNF
2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Australia 2nd 200 m 22.18
World Cup London, United Kingdom 1st 200 m 22.35
2nd 4 × 100 m relay 42.60
NACAC Championships Toronto, Canada 1st 200 m 22.64
2nd 4 × 100 m relay 43.33
2019 World Relays Yokohama, Japan 3rd 4 × 200 m relay 1:33.21
Pan American Games Lima, Peru 1st 400 m 50.73
World Championships Doha, Qatar 3rd 400 m 49.47 PB
1st 4 × 100 m relay 41.44 WL
3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:22.37
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 3rd 100 m 10.76 PB
29th (h) 200 m 23.26
1st 4 × 100 m relay 41.02 NR
3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:21.24 SB
2022 World Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 6th 60 m 7.04
World Championships Eugene, United States 2nd 100 m 10.73 PB
1st 200 m 21.45 CR NR
2nd 4 × 100 m relay 41.18 SB
NACAC Championships Freeport, Bahamas 1st 100 m 10.83
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 2nd 100 m 10.72
1st 200 m 21.41 CR
2nd 4 × 100 m relay 41.21
2025 World Relays Guangzhou, China 3rd 4 × 100 m relay 42.33
World Championships Tokyo, Japan 4th 100 m 10.88
3rd 200 m 22.18

Circuit wins and titles

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National titles

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Shericka Jackson is a Jamaican sprinter renowned for her prowess in the , , and events, as well as relays, holding the national record in the with a time of 21.41 seconds, the second-fastest performance ever recorded by a . Born on 16 July 1994 in , , she discovered her talent for during her school years at Steer Town Academy and later honed her skills at Vere Technical High School, making her international debut at the age of 14 in the 2008 . Training under coach Stephen Francis at the MVP Track Club, Jackson initially specialized in the before transitioning to shorter sprints, where she has achieved global dominance. Jackson's breakthrough came in 2015 at the World Championships in , where she secured a in the and a in the 4x400 metres . She carried this momentum into the 2016 Rio Olympics, earning in the with a time of 49.85 seconds and silver in the 4x400 metres . At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she added a in the , a in the 4x100 metres , and a in the 4x400 metres , while at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she contributed to a in the 4x100 metres despite withdrawing from the individual 200 metres due to injury. These performances have netted her five Olympic medals overall: one , one silver, and three s. On the World Championships stage, Jackson has amassed 11 medals, including two individual golds, with standout victories in the at the 2022 Eugene (21.45 seconds, national record) and 2023 editions (21.41 seconds). She also claimed silver in the at 2022 Eugene and multiple relay medals, such as gold in the 4x100 metres at 2019 Doha. In 2025, following injury challenges, she won the women's at the and earned bronze in the same event at the World Championships in , marking her seventh individual world medal. Her personal best in the stands at 10.65 seconds, underscoring her status as one of Jamaica's premier sprinters alongside legends like and .

Early life

Childhood and family

Shericka Jackson was born on July 16, 1994, in , , a known for its agricultural landscapes and close-knit communities. Her early years were marked by frequent relocations across different parts of , which disrupted her ability to form stable relationships and contributed to a sense of instability in her upbringing. Jackson grew up with her biological parents, Desmond Jackson and Diana Llewellyn, who separated when she was young; her mother later remarried Karl Christie. She has a brother, Ian Jackson. Her family provided emotional support during her formative years, with her parents, stepfather, and sibling later expressing pride in her accomplishments, though she has reflected on a childhood lacking in overt affection, describing it as one where she "never grew up with a lot of love." This environment, characterized by modest socioeconomic circumstances in rural , fostered resilience but also a sense of that she later attributed to her personal drive.

Introduction to athletics

Shericka Jackson's introduction to athletics occurred during her early school years at Steer Town Academy in , , where she first participated in events as part of the school's sports program. This discovery highlighted her natural aptitude for sprinting, marking the beginning of her formative experiences in the sport before any professional-level involvement. She later transferred to Vere Technical High School, a renowned institution for nurturing Jamaican track talent, where she immersed herself in the school's competitive track program. There, under the guidance of her first coach, Constantine Haughton, Jackson began structured training that emphasized building foundational skills. Haughton, a key figure in Vere Technical's athletics tradition, directed her toward the early on, helping her refine basic sprint techniques such as acceleration, stride efficiency, and endurance integration essential for shorter distances. She quickly showed promise in junior regional meets, competing at events like the and gaining exposure that solidified her commitment to sprinting. Throughout these early stages, her family's encouragement provided crucial emotional support, enabling her to balance academics and training.

Athletic career

Early career (2008–2014)

Shericka Jackson began her international athletic career in at the age of 14, representing at the in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, where she won gold in the under-17 girls' with a time of 54.52 seconds. She also contributed to Jamaica's gold medal in the under-17 4x400 metres relay, clocking 3:39.62 as part of the team. These performances marked her early promise as a specialist, earning her initial selection to Jamaica's junior national team for regional competitions. From 2009 to 2011, Jackson dominated the CARIFTA Games across age groups, securing multiple gold medals in the 200 metres and 400 metres, including a championship record in the under-17 4x100 metres relay in 2009 (45.05 seconds) and another in the under-17 4x400 metres relay (3:38.09 seconds). Her success extended to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships, where she claimed gold in the under-18 400 metres in 2012. During this period, Jackson began transitioning her focus from the 400 metres to the 200 metres, reflecting her growing speed and versatility, with personal bests improving to 53.74 seconds in the 400 metres by 2010 and 23.98 seconds in the 200 metres. This shift was evident in her training and event selections around 2010–2012, as she increasingly competed and medaled in shorter sprints at national junior trials. In 2011, Jackson made her global debut at the World Youth Championships in , , earning bronze in the under-18 final with a time of 23.62 seconds, while also anchoring to silver in the sprint medley relay. She followed this with a strong showing at the 2012 World Junior Championships in , , where she advanced to the final and finished fourth with 23.53 seconds, establishing a personal best in the event. Her performances led to further national team selections, including relay duties for at the 2012 World Junior Championships. By 2013, Jackson's 200 metres prowess continued to develop, with a personal best of 22.84 seconds, while maintaining competitiveness in the at 52.03 seconds. In 2014, she achieved a breakthrough at the World Junior Championships in , securing silver in the final with 23.07 seconds, behind the American winner. That year, she also updated her personal best to 51.32 seconds and made her senior debut for in the 4x400 metres relay at the inaugural World Relays in , contributing to a . These accomplishments highlighted her gradual improvement and solidification as a key junior sprinter for before transitioning to senior competition.

Breakthrough years (2015–2016)

In 2015, Shericka Jackson emerged on the senior international stage at the World Championships in , where she secured her first individual global with a bronze in the women's , clocking 49.99 seconds in the final. Later in the meet, she contributed to Jamaica's in the 4x400 metres , running the second leg as part of the team that set a world-leading time of 3:19.13, ahead of the and . These achievements marked Jackson's transition from a promising junior specialist—where she had won multiple titles earlier in her career—to a competitive senior athlete. Building on this momentum, Jackson carried her form into 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, earning another bronze in the women's with a personal best of 49.85 seconds, finishing behind the ' Allyson and Shaunae Miller of . She then anchored Jamaica to silver in the 4x400 metres relay, clocking 3:20.34 for the team that included Stephenie Ann McPherson, Chrisann Gordon, and Novlene Williams-Mills, trailing only the victorious . These medals solidified her reputation as a reliable performer in Jamaica's relay squads, highlighting her endurance and tactical acumen in high-stakes races. Throughout this period, Jackson trained under coach Stephen Francis at the MVP Track Club in Kingston, where adjustments focused on refining her speed endurance and race strategy to handle the demands of major championships. The shift to senior competition presented challenges, including adapting to fiercer international fields and managing the physical toll of the ' lactic acid buildup, but her work with Francis emphasized consistent pacing and recovery to build resilience. This foundation in the and relays laid the groundwork for her later versatility across sprint distances.

Rising prominence (2017–2020)

In 2017, Shericka Jackson continued her ascent in the 200m, finishing fifth in the final at the World Championships in with a time of 22.36 seconds. She contributed to Jamaica's in the women's 4x100m relay, clocking 42.19 seconds for third place behind the and . These performances built on her relay success from the previous years, highlighting her growing reliability in team events while establishing her individual presence among the world's elite sprinters. The following year, Jackson claimed silver in the 200m at the in Gold Coast, Australia, running 22.12 seconds behind Shaunae Miller-Uibo's games record of 22.09 seconds. This medal underscored her competitive edge in the event, as she consistently delivered sub-22.5-second times in major meets, demonstrating improved speed endurance and positioning. By focusing on technical refinements, such as her curve running technique, Jackson enhanced her ability to maintain momentum through the bend, a key factor in her rising consistency. At the 2019 World Championships in , Jackson placed sixth in the 200m final with 22.75 seconds, while anchoring Jamaica to gold in the 4x100m relay in a championship record 41.44 seconds. Her relay was pivotal, showcasing her closing speed and reliability under pressure. Despite occasional setbacks from minor injuries that required recovery periods, Jackson's tactical adjustments allowed her to compete at a high level, often recovering swiftly to post strong season-best times. She also earned in the 400m with 49.57 seconds. The delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in , saw Jackson earn silver in the women's 4x100m with a time of 42.02 seconds, finishing behind the . This capped a period of steady progress in the 200m, where she regularly ranked among the top global performers, solidifying her reputation as one of Jamaica's premier sprinters and setting the stage for future individual breakthroughs.

Olympic transition and challenges ()

In , Shericka Jackson, building on her prior success in the 200m from 2017 to 2020, made a strategic transition to the shorter 100m sprint under the guidance of coach Stephen Francis as part of her preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. This shift from her established 200m and 400m events marked a significant challenge, requiring intensive adjustments in training to build explosive starts and speed endurance for the 100m while maintaining her 200m prowess. Jackson's early foray into the 100m showed rapid progress, with a personal best of 10.77 seconds in the semi-finals at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in , followed by a 10.82-second finish for second place in the final to secure her Olympic qualification. Balancing dual-sprint training proved demanding, as she navigated the physical and technical demands of both events amid a compressed Olympic schedule delayed by the . At the Games, she earned bronze in the women's 100m final on July 31, clocking 10.76 seconds to complete Jamaica's podium sweep behind and . Her Olympic campaign included a gold medal in the women's 4x100m on , where she anchored the Jamaican team to victory in a national record time of 41.02 seconds, underscoring her growing versatility in relay dynamics. However, challenges persisted when she was unexpectedly eliminated in the first round of the 200m on after slowing down prematurely, believing she had qualified—a error that highlighted the mental pressures of competing in multiple events. Post-Olympics, Jackson reflected on the year's demands, stating, "I love challenges and this year was one of them. The sprinting challenges me a lot," emphasizing how the transition enhanced her adaptability across sprint distances. This Olympic experience solidified her evolution into a dual-threat sprinter, setting the stage for further refinements in her career.

World titles and regional success (2022)

In 2022, Shericka Jackson achieved her first individual world title at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she dominated the women's 200m final on July 21, clocking a championship record time of 21.45 seconds to secure gold ahead of compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. This victory marked a significant milestone, building on her silver medal in the 100m earlier that week and contributing to Jamaica's gold in the 4x100m relay, solidifying her transition to elite sprinting after gaining 100m experience at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Later that season, Jackson extended her regional dominance by winning the women's 100m gold at the NACAC Championships in , on August 20, with a championship record of 10.83 seconds, outpacing American Javianne Oliver. This performance highlighted her versatility across sprint distances, as she adapted her speed from the 200m to claim the title in windy conditions. Jackson's 2022 campaign featured several triumphs, including a meeting record of 21.81 seconds to win the 200m in on June 9, defeating Olympic champion . She added victories in and the Brussels , before capping the series with a 22.23-second win at the Zurich final on September 8 to claim her first 200m trophy. These successes underscored her consistency and propelled her to the top of the world rankings in the 200m for the year.

Repeat world dominance (2023)

In 2023, Shericka Jackson continued her ascent in sprinting by defending her 200 m world title from the previous year, marking a period of sustained excellence that solidified her status among the sport's elite. Her season began strongly with a 10.82 s victory in the 100 m at the MVP Velocity Fest 13 meet in , setting the tone for a campaign focused on both sprint distances. She further sharpened her form at the Jamaican Championships, clocking a personal best of 10.65 s to win the 100 m national title, which ranked as the second-fastest time ever by a non-American woman. At the in , Jackson's progression through the events showcased her versatility and competitive edge. In the 100 m final, she earned silver with a time of 10.72 s, finishing just behind Sha'Carri Richardson's winning 10.65 s, while highlighting her growing rivalry with the American sprinter who had dominated the shorter distance. Transitioning to the 200 m, Jackson peaked decisively, securing gold in the final with a blistering 21.41 s—a championship record and the second-fastest time in women's history, trailing only Florence Griffith Joyner's 1988 of 21.34 s. This performance, achieved with a slight wind of +0.1 m/s, underscored her superior curve running and late-race surge, outpacing silver medalist Gabby Thomas (21.81 s) and bronze medalist Richardson (21.92 s), and emphasizing the intensifying head-to-head dynamic with Richardson across events. Jackson's 200 m dominance extended into the Diamond League circuit, where she accumulated points through consistent victories, culminating in her capture of the season-ending 200 m trophy at the final in Eugene, Oregon. There, she set a meeting record of 21.48 s to win, capping a year that featured multiple sub-22-second performances and reinforcing her position as the preeminent 200 m runner globally.

Injuries and Olympic setback (2024)

Entering the 2024 season as the reigning world champion in the 200 meters, Shericka Jackson demonstrated strong form early on, highlighted by her contribution to Jamaica's gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, on May 5, where the team clocked 42.74 seconds to secure an Olympic qualifying spot. She also ran the third leg in 9.84 seconds during the race. Following this, Jackson won her season-opening 200m at the Diamond League meet in Marrakech, Morocco, on May 19, finishing in 22.82 seconds. She added another 200m victory at the Athletissima Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 7, running 22.25 seconds despite a non-scoring sixth-place finish in the 100m at the Oslo Diamond League on May 30 (11.15 seconds). Jackson qualified for the Paris Olympics by completing the sprint double at the Jamaican Championships in June, winning the 100m on June 29 in 10.80 seconds and the 200m on June 30 in a season-best 22.29 seconds. However, her preparations were disrupted by a hamstring cramp sustained during the 200m at the Gyulai István Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, on July 9, which required her to limp across the finish line after slowing significantly. Her physiotherapist, Troy Evans, described it as a non-serious hamstring cramp, but the incident raised concerns just weeks before the Olympics. Nursing the hamstring issue, Jackson withdrew from the women's 100m event at the Paris Games on July 31 to protect her body and focus on the 200m. The injury worsened, leading Jackson to withdraw from the 200m heats on August 4, moments before her scheduled start, marking a significant setback as she did not compete in any individual events at the Olympics. She also sat out the women's 4x100m relay, where placed fifth in the heats on August 9 and failed to advance to the final. This absence contributed to a challenging year for Jamaican sprinting, contrasting sharply with the dominance shown in prior seasons. The hamstring strain limited her overall participation, forcing an early end to her competitive schedule and preventing her from defending her world titles in individual events. Jackson's rehabilitation process proved arduous, involving intensive therapy to address the and related concerns, including a reported Achilles issue from the Hungarian meet. She later admitted to difficulties in regaining full strength and conditioning, which delayed her return to competition until early 2025. Despite the setbacks, her pre-injury performances underscored her resilience, though the Olympic withdrawal represented a rare low point in her career trajectory.

Comeback and world championship gold (2025)

Following a challenging 2024 season marred by injuries that forced her withdrawal from the Paris Olympics, Shericka Jackson mounted a determined comeback in 2025, showcasing resilience and a return to elite form. She opened her season on January 25 at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Development Meet in , where she competed in the women's 60m and finished second in 7.18 seconds, marking her first race in nearly seven months and signaling a cautious yet promising recovery. Jackson gradually built momentum through the early months, focusing on sharpening her speed over shorter distances before transitioning to her signature 200m. Her breakthrough performance came on August 16 at the Diamond League meeting in , , where she powered to victory in the women's 200m with a season-best time of 22.17 seconds, despite a -0.3 m/s headwind, edging out competitors in a hard-fought finish that hinted at her readiness for major championships. At the in from September 13–21, Jackson demonstrated her versatility and competitive edge. In the women's 100m, she advanced through the heats and placed third in her semifinal heat with 10.97 seconds to reach the final, where she finished fourth with 10.88 seconds. She also contributed to Jamaica's in the 4x100m relay final with a time of 41.79 seconds. The highlight of Jackson's return was her in the women's 200m final on September 19, where she clocked 22.18 seconds (-0.1 m/s wind), marking her seventh individual World Championships medal and 11th overall. Jackson's 2025 campaign, blending strategic progression with peak performances, reaffirmed her status as one of sprinting's most resilient stars.

Achievements

Personal bests and progression

Shericka Jackson's personal best in the 100 metres is 10.65 seconds, achieved on 8 July 2023 at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston. Her 200 metres personal best stands at 21.41 seconds, a national record and the second-fastest time in history, set on 25 August 2023 during the final of the World Championships in Budapest. In the 400 metres, her best is 49.47 seconds, recorded on 3 October 2019 in the final at the World Championships in Doha. Indoors, she holds a 60 metres personal best of 7.04 seconds from the final at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade. For relays, Jackson contributed to Jamaica's national record of 41.02 seconds in the 4x100 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on 6 August 2021. Jackson's progression in the sprints reflects a strategic shift from the to shorter distances starting in 2021, which accelerated her improvements. Early in her career, she focused on the and , posting a time of 22.93 seconds at the 2014 . By 2016, she improved to 22.36 seconds in the Olympic semifinals in Rio de Janeiro. Her progression peaked in with the 49.47 seconds mark, but she began incorporating more and races. In 2021, she broke 22 seconds for the first time with 21.99 seconds at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. The following year, 2022, saw further gains, including 21.55 seconds at the Jamaican Championships, the third-fastest time ever at that point. This culminated in her 2023 personal bests, establishing her as one of the premier sprinters across multiple events.
EventYearTimeVenue/EventNotes
200 m201422.93 sEarly senior mark
200 m201622.36 sOlympic semifinals, RioOlympic debut progression
200 m202121.99 sJamaican Olympic TrialsFirst sub-22 seconds
200 m202221.55 sJamaican ChampionshipsThird-fastest ever at time
200 m202321.41 sWorld Championships final, National record, second all-time
400 m201850.31 sJamaican ChampionshipsPre-peak improvement
400 m201949.47 sWorld Championships final, Career best
100 m10.76 sJamaican Olympic TrialsShift to shorter sprint
100 m202310.65 sJamaican ChampionshipsFifth-fastest ever
Her advancements stem from targeted training under coach Stephen Francis at the Titans Athletics Club, emphasizing speed endurance and technical refinements after her transition from the . This shift enhanced her explosive starts and curve-running efficiency, key biomechanical factors in her dominance, allowing better power transfer during the bend. Consistent high-altitude sessions and strength work further supported her progression, mitigating injury risks while building velocity maintenance.

Olympic results

Shericka Jackson made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, where she competed in the women's and the 4x400 metres relay. In the individual event, she advanced to the final and finished third with a time of 49.85 seconds, earning bronze. As part of the Jamaican team in the 4x400 metres relay, Jackson ran the third leg, contributing to a performance with a national record time of 3:20.34. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), Jackson transitioned toward shorter sprints and earned her first individual in the women's , securing with a personal best of 10.76 seconds in the final. She also anchored the Jamaican women's 4x100 metres to , clocking a national record of 41.02 seconds in the final. Jackson qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning both the and at the Jamaican national trials, but injury forced her withdrawal from the women's after the qualifying round and from the 200 metres heats before they began. She did not compete in any events and thus earned no medals at these Games. Across three Olympic appearances, Jackson has won four medals: one gold (4x100 metres relay, Tokyo 2020), one silver (4x400 metres relay, Rio 2016), and two bronzes (400 metres, Rio 2016; 100 metres, Tokyo 2020). Her performances highlight her versatility in individual sprints and relays, though injuries limited her participation.
Olympic GamesEventPositionTimeMedal
Rio 2016400 m3rd49.85 sBronze
Rio 20164x400 m relay2nd3:20.34 (team)Silver
Tokyo 2020100 m3rd10.76 sBronze
Tokyo 20204x100 m relay1st41.02 s (team)Gold
2024100 m / 200 mWithdrew--

World Championships results

Shericka Jackson has competed at the since 2015, accumulating 13 medals across individual and relay events by 2025, including seven individual medals and six relay medals. Her performances highlight her transition from the 400 m to shorter sprints, where she established dominance in the 200 m while contributing significantly to 's relay successes.

2015 ()

Jackson debuted at the championships in the 400 m, earning in the final with a personal best of 49.99 seconds. She also ran the second leg for to gold in the 4 × 400 m relay, clocking a world-leading time of 3:19.13.

2019 (Doha)

Continuing in the 400 m, Jackson secured another in the individual event, finishing third in 49.47 seconds. As anchor, she helped win gold in the 4 × 100 m with a championship record of 41.44 seconds. She also ran the third leg for 's bronze in the 4 × 400 m , recording 3:22.37.

2022 (Eugene)

Jackson claimed silver in the 100 m final, running 10.73 seconds. She then won gold in the 200 m, setting a championship record of 21.45 seconds, the second-fastest time in history. Anchoring the 4 × 100 m relay, she secured silver for in 41.18 seconds.

2023 (Budapest)

In the 100 m, Jackson earned silver with a time of 10.72 seconds. She defended her 200 m title, winning and breaking her own championship record in 21.41 seconds. As anchor in the 4 × 100 m relay, she helped to silver in a season-best 41.21 seconds.

2025 (Tokyo)

Jackson placed fourth in the 100 m final, recording 10.88 seconds. In the 200 m, she won bronze with 22.18 seconds, marking her seventh individual medal at the championships. Anchoring Jamaica's 4 × 100 m relay team to silver in 41.79 seconds completed her medal haul as of September 2025.
YearEventPositionMarkNotes
2015400 mBronze49.99Personal best
20154 × 400 m Gold3:19.13World leading time; second leg
2019400 mBronze49.47-
20194 × 100 m Gold41.44Championship record;
20194 × 400 m Bronze3:22.37Season best; third leg
2022100 mSilver10.73-
2022200 mGold21.45Championship record
20224 × 100 m Silver41.18
2023100 mSilver10.72-
2023200 mGold21.41Championship record
20234 × 100 m Silver41.21Season best;
2025100 m4th10.88Season best
2025200 mBronze22.18Seventh
20254 × 100 m Silver41.79

National and circuit titles

Shericka Jackson has secured multiple titles at the Jamaican Championships, establishing her dominance in domestic sprinting. In 2022, she achieved a historic sprint double by winning both the 100m and 200m events in Kingston, becoming the first Jamaican woman to do so at the national level. The following year, in 2023, Jackson claimed the 100m title with a world-leading personal best of 10.65 seconds. She repeated the double in 2024, winning the 100m and 200m to qualify for the Paris Olympics, demonstrating her continued supremacy in Jamaica's premier national meet. On the international circuit, Jackson has excelled in the , earning overall championships in the 200m in after a season that included key victories like the final in . In 2023, she expanded her success by capturing both the 100m and 200m trophies, highlighted by wins in Eugene and , where she accumulated 26 points across four events to secure the titles. Her performances underscored a remarkable streak of dominance, remaining undefeated in the 200m from June through May 2024. Beyond the Diamond League, Jackson has notched significant circuit victories, including gold in the 100m at the 2022 NACAC Championships in Freeport with a time of 10.83 seconds. In 2025, she added a win in the 200m at the Diamond League meeting, clocking a season's best of 22.17 seconds to edge out competitors and signal her return to form after injury challenges. These achievements highlight her consistent accumulation of circuit points and seasonal leadership in sprint events, particularly the 200m, where she has frequently topped rankings through targeted victories rather than exhaustive participation.

References

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