In what has been a phenomenal year for track and field, not all outstanding performances or athletes will make the news. Some really good performances have unfortunately been overshadowed by unprecedented ones depriving some of these top athletes a chance in the spotlight.
As Athletes took center stage for the Women's 200m final at the IAAF Diamond League finals in Zurich, Shericka Jackson will probably have been wondering what else needs to be done in other to get a deserved victory at a major event.
True to form, and despite her running a new Personal best of 21.81 seconds (a time would win most World Championship finals in history), she was to be denied once again - this time by Olympic 200m silver medalist Christine Mboma who lowered her Personal best by running 21.78 seconds.
Shericka Jackson has been in the form of her life all season, but history will likely remember her competitors in her stead. Her Personal best of 10.76 Seconds at the women's 100m Final in Tokyo was the 11th Fastest time in history, but it was only good for Bronze. She was overshadowed by her compatriots Elaine Thompson and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce through the competition both in publicity and the actual results.
A consistent runner through the years, Shericka must be feeling hard done by her inability to win an individual Gold medal this year. The diamond league was supposed to serve as a consolation of sorts for her but Mboma, who's blistering announcement into the sprinting scene this year has taken the World by storm was simply too powerful at the final bend.
Originally a 400m runner, Jackson has been a consistent medalist at the World stage since 2015. She is a versatile athlete who can compete at the highest level and won medals in both the 100, 200 and 400m events. Interestingly, an individual Gold medal has also eluded her across all disciplines. She has won two bronze medals in the 400m event at the World Championships as well as a bronze medal each in both the 100m and 400m event at the Olympics.
What's Next For Her?
Jackson is not exactly a spring chicken at 27 years of age, but based on this seasons consistent form you would feel she hasn't quite peaked as an athlete. Going by the very competitive nature of the 100m, her best chances of global Gold stand in the 200m and 400m events which is somewhat uncommon among sprinters. Usually sprinters don't make excellent 400m runners and vice versa but she's an exception. With the World Championships coming up next year in Eugene, Oregon, she will have to make a decision on which preferred event to focus on and work towards improving.
That said, if she can keep improving like we witnessed this season, it would be tough to rule her out of contention in any of the three events in question.
Conclusion
For Jackson, it seems only a matter of time. The onus is on her to keep making improvements and with her talent, consistency and versatility, her time is bound to come for individual Gold.