Shericka Jackson triumphed in the women’s 100-meter race at the Jamaican Olympic trials, overcoming her disappointment in the semifinal.
Jackson crossed the finish line first with a time of 10.84, ahead of Tia Clayton and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who came in second and third with timings of 10.90 and 10.94, respectively.
The two-time world 200-meter champion got off to a strong start in the preliminary round, winning in 10.99, then shocking her supporters by placing second behind Clayton in the semifinal. Jackson finished a distant second in 10.87, while Clayton won in 10.83.
With the performance, Jackson had the pressure to deliver in the final and did not disappoint as she put up a good fight to clock a season best time.
The two-time world 100-meter silver medallist had a delayed start to her season; she entered the JAAA All Comers Series 100-meter event and won with a timing of 11.03. She subsequently started her campaign in the Diamond League Meeting in Rabat, where she emerged victorious in the race.
After that, the Jamaican placed sixth at the competition in Oslo, but recovered to win the Diamond League competition in Stockholm.
Fraser-Pryce, a repeat world champion, also got her season underway later than expected when she won the JAAA Olympic French Foray 3, finishing in a time of 11.15.
She had a terrific start to the competition in the preliminary round, taking first place in 10.98, and then placing third in the final.
Fraser-Pryce has stated that she intends to retire following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and she wants to send off with a bang. The Jamaican sprint queen was held down by an injury setback, but this season she plans to make an impression.
Kishane Thompson has announced his return, taking the win in the men’s 100m final at the Jamaican Olympic trials.
Thompson has been battling injuries but from his performance at the National Stadium in Kingston, the youngster seems to have regained his shape and is ready for the Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The final saw Thompson cut the tape in an impressive world leading time of 9.77 to win the race as Oblique Seville finished second in 9.82. Ackeem Blake completed the podium, stopping the clock at 9.92. The time the 22-year-old has clocked makes him the ninth fastest man in history.