KINGSTON, Jamaica— Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson came up just short of breaking the women’s 200m world record after she ran a blistering 21.48 seconds (0.2m/s) to win at Friday’s Van Damme Memorial Diamond League meet at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.

While the 21.34 seconds set by the late American Florence Griffiths-Joyner in 1988 survived, the 29-year-old Jackson broke the Diamond League and meet record with the fourth fastest time ever run.

Running out of lane seven she easily overhauled Great Britain’s Daryll Neita before they got off the curve and ran away for an impressive victory, beating the previous meeting record 21.64 seconds set in 1991 by Merlene Ottey and the Diamond League record 21.74 seconds set by Shaunae Miller-Uibo in Zurich, Switzerland in 2019.

Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas was second in 22.31 seconds with American Jenna Prandini third in 22.47 seconds.

Janieve Russell, finished strong to place second in the women’s 400m hurdles, running 53.80 seconds behind World Champion Femke Bol’s meet record 52.11 seconds.

Bol of the Netherlands broke the previous meet record of 53.43 seconds set in 1998 by Morocco’s Nezha Bidouane.

World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton was third in 54.10 and Andrenette Knight who was well placed with three hurdles to go, faded to sixth place in 54.75 seconds.

World Championships relay silver medallist Candice McLeod was fifth in the women’s 400m in 50.82 seconds as Belgium’s Cynthia Bolingo won with 50.09 seconds.

-Paul A Reid