SHERICKA Jackson will go down in history as the one of greatest Jamaican female athletes to ever grace the track — both locally and internationally — with seven years and counting of spectacular and astounding exploits.

Last year, at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Jackson was millimetres away from winning the 100m and 200m sprint double. Jackson finished second to American Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m final before delivering a world-class performance to win the 200m in 21.41 seconds, coming within 0.07 seconds of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 21.34 seconds set in 1988, thus marking the second-fastest time ever. She was also a member of the Jamaican relay squad which finished second behind the Americans in the 4x100m event.

As if that was not enough for this remarkable athlete to secure a special place in the record books, Jackson proceeded to raise the bar to new and unimaginable loftiness as she concluded a tremendous season by winning both the 100m and 200m titles at the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, becoming one of only nine athletes in history to complete a Diamond League double in one season. Jackson also set a new personal best in the 100m with 10.65 seconds, the fifth-quickest time ever, when she defended her national title in July.

These accomplishments opened a pristine new page in track and field history, which even learned scribes are finding difficult to assess and quite daunting to place in proper context. Jackson’s outstanding success on the track in 2023 made her the clear pick for National Sportswoman of the Year. The award ceremony was held at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Friday. Danielle Williams, who won gold in 100m hurdles at the championships, was first-runner-up. Antonio Watson copped the Sportsman of the Year award.

“I’m feeling good, I’m actually feeling really good. Just to be here representing myself, my family, and friends is just a good feeling,” Jackson said.

“It’s definitely special. It’s my first time winning Sportswoman of the Year so it’s definitely special. Unfortunately, my mom couldn’t make it but all my friends are here and I’m grateful. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the members of the board for selecting me for this prestigious and iconic award. I am truly grateful,” the 29-year-old Jackson further added.

Jackson began her career as a 400m sprinter, earning individual bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2015 World Championships, and the 2019 World Championships. She earned silver in the 4x400m relay at the 2016 Olympics, followed by gold and bronze at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships. She also won the gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2019 Championships.

Jackson changed to shorter sprints in 2021, winning bronze in the 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, followed by gold and bronze in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, respectively. That year she set a personal best of under 10.80 seconds in the 100m and under 22 seconds in the 200m. With a best of under 49.5 seconds in the 400m she became one of the few women to achieve such times. At the 2022 World Championships she won silver in the 100m, gold in the 200m (setting a national record), and silver in the 4x100m relay. She was also the 2022 Diamond League 200m champion.

Jackson is the first athlete in World Championship history to win gold in the 100, 200, and 400 metres, as well as the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. She is also the second athlete in history, after Marita Koch, to win gold in the 100, 200, 400, 4×100, and 4×400 metres at the World Championships and/or Olympic Games.

Jackson expressed happiness with her years of racing exploits and credited her success to an emphasis on health and mental strength.

“At the end of the 2019 season I was diagnosed with multiple stress fractures, causing uncertainty, especially with the 2020 season being an Olympic year. As you know, Olympics was rescheduled for 2021 due to a global crisis. This delay would become my opportunity to not only heal but also discover how to control my emotions, build up my mental strength, and be resilient through having steadfast faith in God.

“I now appreciate the value of patience and the benefit of remaining calm in all situations, guided by my coach. By trusting the expertise of my physiotherapy I was able to successfully change events and excel at the game. And, as I said, it’s always to stay mentally okay and always to stay physically okay. I think right now I’m getting to those two points,” the 2023 National Sportswoman of the Year said.

Jackson added that she plans to start her 2024 season early next month, and hopes to compete indoors as well.

“I definitely think I have some races. I was supposed to run last Saturday but, unfortunately, I was unable to run. I definitely think my coach has some indoor races set but, as I said, it’s one step at a time. It’s just to remain healthy and mentally strong. I think those are getting in place so I think, whenever I’m ready, definitely. But definitely, we’re looking indoors.

“Honestly, to tell you the truth, I have not set any goals just yet. Usually I set my goals the first week of January but I think mentally, I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent. For me, I always like to be patient with what I’m doing therefore, I haven’t set any goals yet.

“I think at the start of February I should be opening my season and, definitely, I still have my book and I’m ready to write. For me personally, it’s just to get my mental state intact first and to recover from some illness I had last week,” Jackson stated.