ON A ROLL!
While she expects another big season in 2023, sprinting star Shericka Jackson is eager to expand her impact off the track as well as she looks to build on her inaugural children’s Christmas treat and create a dedicated charity organisation in the coming months.
Jackson, the world 200m champion and second-fastest woman in history in the half-lap event, treated over 200 children from the Shaw Park Heights (Lime Bottom) community in Ocho Rios on December 26, a move which she hopes will become a staple and a catalyst for the development of her own, full charity.
“This is my first children’s treat for my community. It came about when I was in Europe and I was thinking that I wanted to do something for my community because I had never done something for this community specifically,” said Jackson.
“I had done something for my mother’s community but I wanted to do something for my community and I am happy that I was able to keep my first treat here.”
The children were treated with gifts, school and food items, rides, activities, competitions and giveaways with a number of tablets and other prizes being handed over with support coming from the athlete’s sponsors Scotiabank and Purity.
“This is very important to me. I know what it feels like not to get anything for Christmas and I wanted to do something for the kids and I think we came up with a good idea and we are all grateful,” she said.
Jackson, who said that she is looking forward to the upcoming campaign, which will be highlighted by the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next summer, underlined the value of giving back to the wider community, something she places as a major priority of hers.
“Right now I am thinking about having my own charity where I can keep this treat every year and add other [elements] to it,” Jackson said.
“It is very important. I am probably the first person from my community to do something like this and I am grateful. To see all these children here and their beautiful smiles, I think a lot of persons will come on board and we will be able to do something [positive],” said Jackson.
Jackson cemented herself as the world’s most gifted sprinter after storming to 21.45 seconds in the 200m on her way to winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she also won silver in the 100m with a time of 10.73 seconds.
Three months into her background season, Jackson is encouraged by the early signs and is excited about what the coming season may bring.
“I must say that things are looking good and have been going really well and I am excited for next season.
“I am very excited to see how fast I can go and I know that my coach is excited as well. So for right now, I think I am just getting started when it comes on to the sprinting events,” Jackson shared.
“For me, I just want to stay healthy because once I am healthy, I know I will run super fast. So coach and I are focusing on getting things properly done in terms of technique; we are focusing on the small things that need to be fixed.”