Jamaica's Shericka Jackson sprints to 100m world lead, becoming 5th-fastest woman of all time
5-time Olympic medallist posts time of 10.65 seconds at national championships
World Championship silver medallist Shericka Jackson blitzed an eye-popping world-leading 10.65 seconds (wind +1.0 metre per second) in the women's 100 metres on Friday, to become the joint fifth-fastest woman of all time.
Jackson was regal as she easily secured her second national 100m title on the second day of the JAAA National Junior and Senior Championships to secure her spot at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this summer.
Running lane five, Jackson, the reigning 200-metre world champion, exploded from the block and led from wire to tape for an easy win ahead of Shashalee Forbes (10.96) and Natasha Morrison (10.98).
10.65! That's how fast Shericka Jackson is at this time! 2nd was Sashalee Forbes with 10.96 and 3rd Natasha Morrison 10.98! Brianna Williams 11.01!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JAAA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JAAA</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics_JA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Athletics_JA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MCGESJamaica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MCGESJamaica</a> <a href="https://t.co/rdiJQRNLWd">pic.twitter.com/rdiJQRNLWd</a>
—@Athletics_JABack-to-back Olympic double sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who has struggled with injury this season, stopped the clock in a season-best 11.06 in fifth.
Jackson, who was shocked on learning she had moved up to number five of all time, said the big difference maker was nailing the start.
Despite the massive career best, Jackson pointed to an issue that still needed improvement ahead of Budapest.
"I think the ending need a little fixing," she reasoned.
"I know I'm a strong finisher, but I still need to work on that a bit because I made a miss-step, so coach and I will continue working on my stride pattern going forward, It's been tough coming down from the 400-metre to the 100-metre since in 2021," Jackson said.
Sha'Carri Richardson wins 100m at U.S. nationals
Moments after she was introduced on the starting line, Sha'Carri Richardson reached to her head, pulled her trademark orange wig off and flung it onto the ground behind her.
Then, she took the next step on the long road to proving she's the real deal.
America's most colourful sprint star won the 100-metre title in 10.82 seconds at the U.S. championships on Friday night, marking a high point that comes two years after her national title was stripped because of a doping violation.
After her victory, she conceded in a TV interview that she wasn't ready for the moment at the 2021 Olympic Trials, where, shortly after her victory, she tested positive for using marijuana.
She'll have a chance to put a stamp on that next month at world championships, which will mark her first major international meet. Earning America's second and third spots in the event were Brittany Brown (10.90) and Tamari Davis (10.99).
With files from The Associated Press
