Jackson zeroing in on the process
World champion says she won’t dwell on world record possibilities
Published:Wednesday | August 23, 2023 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY:
SHERICKA JACKSON knows with every 200-metre performance, the talk about the possibility of breaking the world record will follow.
But taking inspiration from another world record holder, she is more focused on the process of achieving her best results, even as she begins the defence of her 200m world title today.
Jackson lines up in lane four for her first-round heat this morning, 48 hours after her silver-medal-mining performance in the 100m.
Jackson has run five 200s this year, choosing instead to focus on perfecting the 100. After setting the second-fastest time in history to win her maiden world title last year in Oregon, she’s the second-fastest woman this year behind Olympic bronze medallist Gabby Thomas.
According to Jackson, the approach of Faith Kipyegon, who holds the world records in the 1500m and 5000m, as well as the World and Olympic titles, has helped to remind her to focus on the process to get to where she wants to be.
“I always watch her press conferences where she talks about wanting to achieve it. I think when I dwell on things too long, I tend to forget the importance of how to get there. I have it at the back of my head, but I am not going to go into every race, every 200 and think if I do this then I will [break the record]. Once I am happy, once my mental aspect is intact, then I will put together a proper 200,” Jackson said.
It was the thought of the record, however small, that she said caused her to miss out on it in Oregon.
“Last year I dwelled on it a little too much and I think I missed the record by this much, somewhat. I think I went back to the drawing board and read some of what I wrote, how I got there and I said ‘OK then, I need to cut back on this.’ It’s not like I am not thinking about it, but I am not going to dwell on it,” Jackson said.
Meanwhile, Ashanti Moore will line up in heat two along with the new world 100m champion, Sha’Carri Richardson.
In heat four, Natalliah Whyte will battle world 100m championship finalist Julien Alfred, while Kevona Davis makes her World Championship debut in heat five with Thomas, the fastest woman in the world this year.
For the men, two-time national champion, Andrew Hudson, will finally race in a World Championships in Jamaican colours, lining up in heat two of the men’s 200m which starts at 5:15 a.m.
Heat two will also feature defending world champion and new 100m champion, Noah Lyles. Rasheed Dwyer will be in heat five.