Jackson aims for nat'l junior record, gold
Published:Saturday | July 9, 2011 | 12:00 AM
LILLE, France:
Shericka Jackson, the fastest 200m youth athlete in the world and the gold medal favourite at the IAAF World Youth Championships (WYC) in Lille, with a best mark of 23.32 seconds, has made it clear that she is on a double mission here in France, with the national junior record and also the gold medal squarely in her focus.
The time of 22.71 seconds - registered in 2004 - is the current mark held by Simone Facey, but Jackson, a student at Vere Technical, believes she is in prime condition to lower the record and, in the process, join 2003 winner Anneisha McLaughlin as the only Jamaican WYC 200m gold medallists.
"To tell you the truth, I think I can go as low as 22 seconds by the time the final comes around," said Jackson, after comfortably winning her heat yesterday in 24.08 seconds. "Right now I feel great, I am in very good form and I'm feeling very confident about my chances in this 200m, but of course I'm waiting until the final before I go for that time fully.
"If I get enough competition in the final and if I'm pushed all the way I am sure I can go for the record and better it," Jackson added, before expressing satisfaction with her first-round outing yesterday morning.
"I'm pleased with what I did at this stage. I got instructions from Mr Bolt (Leacroft, Jamaica's head coach) to run my corner and then maintain it on the home stretch, and that is exactly what I did, so I'm pleased for now," Jackson said.
"I still have the other rounds of the 200m, the semi-final and the medley relay heats (today) so I was holding back," Jackson added. "I ran the corner hard enough, I went into the race knowing that there were persons who could go fast so I ensured not to underestimate anyone, so I went out quickly for the first 100m, cleared the field and took it home."
The youngster is already flirting with the title of world champion and is hoping that all her hard work will pay off here in Lille.
"I have worked hard this season and if I am able to come here and leave as a World Youth champion I would be very happy with that," said Jackson.