World record chase

TWELVE JAMAICANS will line up on the last day of the two-day Diamond League finals in Zürich, Switzerland, today but perhaps the most anticipated events for Jamaicans are the women’s sprint.

World champions Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have both set the tempo high for the events as they said they are aiming for records.

Jackson is going after the big one, as she said she has the world 200m record (21.34) set in her sights, after running 21.45 at the recent World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Her winning time there is the second-fastest time ever by a woman over the distance.

“Before I started the season, I wrote that exact time on a piece of paper that I left on my trophy stand. I think I had expected the time right after the Jamaica trials (and) I said ‘OK it’s coming, it’s coming’, and I wanted it so bad and I continued to work, right after the trials I went back to training and I achieved that and I am so happy,” Jackson said.

“I went back home though, and I wrote a different goal. I wrote another time there because I definitely want to go faster and I think I am capable of doing that. If it’s not done tomorrow (today’s final), then definitely I will come back next year and work even harder,” Jackson added.

“It (the new time written down) is definitely round about there (the world record),” the Jamaican national 200m record holder said.

PERFECT EXECUTION

To achieve this goal (world record), Jackson said she has to focus on properly executing her own race.

“I think probably a perfect execution, just run my own race, focus on my own lane. At the World Championships I had a lot in my legs and I was still able to run 21.4. So coming out here tomorrow in the 100, I expect to perform at my best and definitely after I get some rest, I’ll definitely come out in the 200,” she said.

“I am very, very great at the 200. So tomorrow I definitely want to come and give a good performance in both events. I am definitely looking for a fast fast time tomorrow, especially in the 200,” Jackson said.

The 100m World Championships silver medallist said although she is doubling at today’s event, she thinks she has enough time to recover after the 100m for the 200m.

“It’s long enough… I think an hour and 20 minutes and I think that recovery is good enough for me, so I want to challenge myself and I think here (Zürich) is the best place to do it,” Jackson said.

Fraser-Pryce said that she also has records in sight but more so on a personal basis, wanting to beat her 100m personal best of 10.60 seconds at today’s meet.

“What drives me is that I am at this point in my career, I have dreamt of running 10.6 and to be able to do that consistently is almost as if I want to make sure I challenge myself every time I step to the line and I am definitely looking forward (to) or chasing a personal best,” the 100m World champion said.

The multiple Olympic and World Championships gold medallist said she would also love to earn a world record one day.

“As athletes, for a lot of us, we would love to have a world record beside our name because that’s like the ultimate (goal),” Fraser-Pryce said.

She said with the height of the competitiveness in women’s sprinting, anything is possible.

“It has been an incredible season and I know you say ‘the Diamond League finals is a big event’, it is, but female sprinting so far, the 100 metres has definitely been big. (It) doesn’t matter where the event is, you just know the ladies are going to show up,” Fraser-Pryce observed.

“I think that’s definitely a plus that you know you stand at the line and you have to be ready for the competition and the energy is high and the expectations are good and I think the crowd definitely deserves that,” the Pocket Rocket noted.

Fraser-Pryce said she will be wrapping up her season after today’s competition, but Jackson said she expects to continue her season by competing in Bellinzona, Switzerland, at the World Athletics Continental Tour on September 12.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd finished fifth in the women’s shot put Diamond League finals yesterday, with a best mark of 19.04 metres.

“Enjoying the journey of life, always an honour to showcase my talent. Today wasn’t my best, but I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the environment. On to the next, see you next year,” Thomas-Dodd captioned under an Instagram post after the event.

sharla.williams@gleanerjm.com

Today’s schedule for Jamaicans

10:35 a.m. Shaneika Ricketts - Women’s triple jump

12:04 p.m. Candice McLeod, Stephenie-Ann McPherson - Women’s 400m

12:25 p.m. Britany Anderson - Women’s 100m hurdles

12:52 p.m. Rasheed Broadbell, Hansle Parchment - Men’s 110m hurdles

1:23 p.m. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison, Shericka Jackson - Women’s 100m

1:49 p.m. Yohan Blake - Men’s 100m

1:59 p.m. Janieve Russell, Rushell Clayton - Women’s 400m hurdles

2:19 p.m. Natoya Goule - Women’s 800m

2:42 p.m. Shericka Jackson - Women’s 200m