‘I am here now’

JAMAICAN 100 AND 200-metre national champion, Shericka Jackson, will be hoping to repeat her feat on local soil when she goes to Paris later this August.

Jackson said she has been preparing to take on the challenge of claiming not just her first Olympic gold, but to keep the sprint double title in Jamaican hands.

Jackson went into this weekend’s Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships with only a handful of races under her belt. In spite of this, she left the National Stadium reigning supreme.

She said her confidence comes from her belief in her coach and the preparation process designed to have her in shape for the Olympics.

“It was a late start to the season you know, but nevertheless, coach and I had sat down and we had a conversation about how I wanted to approach the season and I think we did pretty good,” she said.

“I’ve only run one 100m this season and my 200m wasn’t the best, but as I said, it’s a work in process and you just have to trust the process.”

A large part of her season was overshadowed with injury concerns as Jackson’s appearances on the track were uncharacteristically infrequent.

She explained while there were some concerns, she was never in danger of missing out on the Paris Games through injury.

She said last year’s schedule had left her tired, especially after several rounds of competition at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

This year, however, her scheduling saw to better race management to keep her healthy and prepared for competition.

“Honestly, there was a little niggle here and there but it wasn’t anything serious. Last year, I ran a lot and by the end of the season I was a lot more tired than usual, especially after the World Championships. I just said: ‘Coach, make the rules and I’ll follow’ and that’s what we did.”

Jackson said the Paris Games will be especially important as she is yet to win her first individual Olympic gold medal.

Her best placement was bronze in the women’s 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and in the women’s 400 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

I don’t have an Olympic gold medal, so that’s something I’m definitely looking forward to,” she said.

“One of the greatest things is you believing in yourself and I believe in myself. Yes, a part of the season I lost a bit of hope, but as I said, I trusted my coach and I am here now.”