"I'm capable of running sub-48s or sub-49s in the 400m' - Shericka Jackson

Shericka Jackson is the world's fastest woman in the 200m event

"I'm capable of running sub-48s or sub-49s in the 400m' - Shericka Jackson

Funmilayo Fameso 23:38 - 30.08.2023

Shericka Jackson has revealed she's capable of running super fast in the 400m and breaking the Jamaican record of 49.30s.

World champion in the women's 200m Shericka Jackson, has made known her intentions of breaking the 400m Jamaican Record of 49.30s set by Lorraine Fenton in 2002.

She revealed this in an interview with Colin Jackson in the press conference organised for the Zurich Diamond League, stating that the record is within her grasp if she decides to go back to the 400m.

Shericka Jackson confirms her intention of breaking the Jamaican 400m record
Shericka Jackson

"Definitely, I want to break the Jamaican 400m record, which is 49.3. My Personal Best (PB) was 49.4 back in 2019," she said.

Jackson started her career as a 400m sprinter, winning bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics2015 World Championships and 2019 World Championships. At the same competitions, she added medals in the 4 x 400 m relays, taking silver, gold, and bronze, respectively.

However, in 2021, she switched to shorter sprints and has achieved great strides in the events. She won bronze in the 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, adding a gold and bronze for the 4x100 m and 4x400 m relays. 

That year, she achieved sub-10.8s and sub-22s PBs in the 100 m and 200m, and with her 400m lifetime best at 49.4s, she became one of few women to reach such marks at all events simultaneously.

The Jamaican 200m record holder also revealed how she wanted to double at the Jamaican trials but was refused by her coach.

"I wanted to run the 100 and 400 at the Jamaica trials, but coach wouldn't allow me. I definitely hope one day that coach and I can sit, and we go back to the 400 because I definitely want to see how fast I can run, knowing that I'm faster in the 100m than before," Jackson continued.

When asked if she thinks she can go sub-49s or sub-48s, the triple medallist at the just concluded World Championships in Budapest, Jackson said she's capable of doing it.

Shericka Jackson won the 200m world title in a Championship Record of 21.41s

"Back when I had a different coach, he said I was capable of running 47 and definitely I still believe that...As I said, right now I'm on 49.4, and over the years I've gotten faster over the 100 and 200. So if I'm able to put together a solid 400, definitely a solid 48, 47 is possible."

Jackon won the 200m world title in Budapest in a jaw-dropping Championship Record (CR) of 21.41s - the second-fastest time in history, breaking her previous record of 21.45s. 

She also won 100m silver in 10.72s behind Sha'Carri Richardson's winning CR of 10.65s and anchored her country's 4x100m relay team to another silver medal.

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