Damoy Rowe
Jamaican national champion and world leader over the 100m this season, Shericka Jackson is still the fastest woman over the distance this season with a blistering personal best of 10.65 seconds when she claimed victory at the Jamaican National Championships in Kingston on July 7th. That time now puts her at fifth on the world all-time list, ahead of Sha’Carri Richardson, who ran 10.71 in the heats of the US Championships and eventually went on to win the national title in 10.82.
Jackson, however, had to settle for second place as the American star, Richardson, emerged victorious at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland, on Sunday.
This comes just over a month ahead of the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The US sprinter trailed Jackson, the world 200-metre champion, at 50 metres into the race but dug deep and powered through in the closing stages to win in 10.76 seconds, while Jackson placed second with a time of 10.78 seconds. It was also her birthday. Poland’s Ewa Swoboda finished third with a PB of 10.94, while Jamaica’s Shashalee Forbes closed out the race in ninth place with a time of 11.18 seconds.
Other Jamiacans who competed at the meet in Poland were Yohan Blake and Ackeem Blake, who finished fifth and seventh, respectively, with times of 10.01 and 10.15. The race was won by South African Akani Simbine in 9.97 seconds.
The Jamaican pair of Megan Tapper (12.49) and Danielle Williams (12.55) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the women’s 100-metre hurdles. Tyler Mason finished third in the men’s 110-metre hurdles in 13.29, and Natoya Goule, 1:57.90, placed third in the women’s 800m.
Triple jump national champion Shanieka Ricketts achieved a new season-best of 14.56m but could only manage fifth place in the women’s triple jump event. Lamara Distin finished sixth in the women’s high jump with an effort of 1.89 m, and Candice McLeod locked a new season best of 50.19 seconds to finish fourth in the women’s 400 m, while Poland’s Natalia Kazmareck won in a meet record of 49.48 seconds.
