Track fans were disappointed late on Wednesday when Jamaican track star Sherricka Jackson announced that she was withdrawing from the 100m and only run the 200m at the Paris Games.
“It was a combination of things,” said Jackson of her decision to withdraw from the 100m. “I got hurt, and me and my coach felt like it was a good decision to only run one event.”
The injury she suffered came at a meet in Hungary in early July, when she pulled up with a calf injury. Before that, she had run a season-best 10.84 in 100m.
Her coach, Stephen Francis, told the Jamaica Gleaner earlier this week that Jackson “appears OK to me.”
But Jackson said the decision was made by both her and Francis.
“It was a combination of so much stuff that I personally don’t want to talk about,” she said. “Sometimes you have to go through a rocky road to get where you’re trying to go. And my rocky road has happened to me.”
Jackson was considered one of the top contenders in the event, but the 200m is where she has been shining brightest, winning the world title in both 2022 and 2023.
Jamaica’s chances for a medal now rest in the hands of 2x Olympic gold medalist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tia Clayton and Jackson’s replacement, Shashalee Forbes. They will try to beat rising star Sha’Carri Richardson, who holds the world’s leading time this year with a 10.71.
Jamaica is also missing Olympic star Elaine Thompson-Herah, who suffered an Achilles injury last month. Elaine won the 100m and 200m at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
So while the 100m trials begin on Friday, Jackson won’t begin her Games until Sunday when the 200m trials begin.
“I always felt good. I felt good about both the 100 and the 200,” she said. “I’m definitely healthy, and I’m definitely OK.”
Can’t wait for track to begin!
