Jackson Falls Short Of Breaking 200m World Record

Bu: Gyang Dakwo

Jamaican sprinter, Shericka Jackson, has  again failed to break the women’s 200m world record at the Brussels Diamond League meet on Friday (8 September).

Since failing to make it out of the heats at Tokyo 2020, the 29-year-old Jamaican has dominated the half-lap event and made it back-to-back world titles in Budapest last month with a personal best of 21.41.

She was just outside that time in the Belgian capital, taking another commanding victory in 21.48 with Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 21.34 from the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games tantalisingly close.

“Running here today was very good. I am very happy with my race. For me personally, it is just to show up and especially in front of such an amazing crowd, you just have to put in your best and that’s what I did today,” said Jackson afterwards. “It felt really good tonight, I definitely feel like I’m getting there, closer to that record.”

This was a new Diamond League record and the fourth-fastest time ever recorded meaning Jackson now has four of the six best times in history.

Jackson owns five Olympic medals, including gold as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team in Tokyo.

Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas was second in 22.31, followed by American Jenna Prandini (22.47).

Brussels was the final opportunity for the stars of the sport to secure their spots at next weekend’s Diamond League Finals in Eugene, Oregon.