‘Anything is possible’, Jackson says about breaking Flo-Jo’s 10.49 record
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Having made history to become the third fastest Jamaican of all time with a 10.65 seconds clocking in the 100m at the National Championships last weekend, Shericka Jackson says the world record of 10.49 by American Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) is within reach.
Speaking at the press conference for the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial/Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland on Saturday, Jackson acknowledged there is no limit to what she can do in the blue riband event.
“I think anything is possible. For me, I don’t limit what I’m capable of,” Jackson told reporters.
Jackson switched to the sprint double two years ago, having competed in the 400m for most of her career. Since then, she has claimed two World Championship 100m medals (bronze and silver), back-to-back sprint double national titles, her first Diamond League trophy in the 200m, 4x100m medals among other accomplishments.
Her time of 10.65 has also made her the fifth fastest woman in the 100m in the history of athletics.
Apart from Flo-Jo’s 1988 record, Jackson falls behind her compatriots Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.54), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.60) and American Carmelita Jetter (10.64)
She added that despite competing in the events for such a short time, she believes with her coach’s guidance “anything is possible”.
“Not because I just started sprinting probably two years ago, I think I am capable of anything; and as I said, once coach and I work on the weak parts and continue to maintain the strong parts, I think anything is possible,” she added.
Jackson is slated to compete in the 100m on Sunday against the likes of Sha’Carri Richardson and Twanisha Terry of America, Great Britain’s Daryll Neita, her compatriot Shashalee Forbes, New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs, Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas, Germany’s Gina Luckenkemper and Ewa Swoboda of Poland.