A brilliant bronze - Jackson runs personal best for third in spectacular 400m final

DOHA, Qatar:

There is something about major championships that seems to get the best out of Jamaican quarter-miler Shericka Jackson.

In five years as a professional athlete, the MVP standout boasts three individual bronze medals at the highest level after adding to that collection following the women’s 400m final at the World Championships final at the Khalifa International Stadium last night.

Jackson posted the fourth-fastest time ever recorded by a Jamaican in the event, a personal best 49.47 seconds, as Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser produced one of the best performances, in one of the best races ever at the World Championships, to win the event in 48.14 seconds, the third-fastest time in history.

“I am feeling pretty good. I got a bronze medal and a personal best. I didn’t go as fast as I wanted to, but I am pretty grateful,” Jackson told The Gleaner.

Bahamas’ pre-championships favourite, Shaunae Miller-Uibo finished second in 48.37 seconds, which is the ninth-fastest time ever registered in the event, as the top-five finishers in the final went below 50 seconds.

Another Jamaican, Stephenie Ann McPherson, ran sixth in 50.89 seconds.

Jackson’s medal was one of two won by Jamaica on yesterday’s seventh day of action, with Danniel Thomas-Dodd claiming a historic silver medal in the shot put final with a 19.47m mark to become the first Caribbean woman to win a medal in the event. Jamaica’s management team had appealed the foul throw given for Thomas-Dodd’s fifth attempt during the final, however, after reviewing the video footage, agreed with the officials’ decision.

MEDAL TALLY BOOST

The results mean that Jamaica increased its medal tally in Doha to six – two gold, three silver, and one bronze – to sit third in the medal table behind the United States on 18 (8-8-2) and China on 9 (3-3-3).

Jackson, who admitted that she was hoping to erase Lorraine Fenton’s 17-year 49.30 seconds national record, was nonetheless thrilled with the win.

“I wanted to break the national record,” said Jackson. “In 2017, that was my main objective, to break the national record, but I had to sit on the step and wait to see if I made the final. I made the final and I left that championship very disappointed. I promised myself that I didn’t want to come to another championship and sit and wait to see if I made the final, so I went back and worked really hard.”

Jackson ended the London 2017 World Championships final in fifth place, but with bronze medals from the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympic Games on her résumé, only Lorraine Fenton, with four individual medals, has won more than the 25-year-old at the Olympics and World Championships level for Jamaica.

“I just believe that, probably, I am one of those persons who can run well at a championship. I realised I was not doing so good on the Diamond League circuit so I had a little talk with my coach (Paul Francis) and told him that for the Olympic and the World Championships, I realised I performed better when I didn’t run at so many Diamond League meets. I think not showing up at the (Diamond League) final was a thing that he considered and tonight I did pretty good and ran a personal best and I am very grateful,” Jackson reasoned.

Jackson added that she hopes to attempt the 200m/400m double at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“It has been in the back of my mind. Coach mentioned it once but he never really dwelled on it so I never really questioned it but I think next year, if he decides, I will run the 200m. I would be really happy because it’s something I love from my high school days,” Jackson said.

National 400m hurdles champion Rushell Clayton will look to add to Jamaica’s medal tally today at 1:30 p.m. Jamaica time. Clayton will start from Lane Five, between the American pair of world-record holder Dalilah Muhammad (Lane Six) and Sydney McLaughlin, who are expected to battle for the gold.

At 2:20 p.m., Akeem Bloomfield and Demish Gaye will line up in a fiery men’s 400m final, starting from lanes two and three, respectively, while the women’s 4x100m relay team of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natalliah Whyte, Jonielle Smith, and Natasha Morrison will run out of Lane Eight in Heat Two, against the likes of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and Nigeria starting at 12:49 p.m. If they advance, they are expected to add Jackson to the quartet for the final.

The male 4x100m relay team of Yohan Blake, Oshane Bailey, Tyquendo Tracey, and Rasheed Dwyer will line up in a tough opening heat at 1:05 p.m., where they will face the likes of United States, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, as well as Brazil.