We'll peak at the right time” - Shericka Jackson reveals plans for Olympic year after winning Marrakech Diamond League on 200m season debut

Shericka Jackson has finally opened her 200m Olympic year and she's done it in style. The Jamaican delayed the start of her 200m season multiple times, before taking to the track at the Marrakech Diamond League in a performance that delighted fans.

Jackson was originally meant to open her Olympic year at the JAAA Puma/Fuller/Anderson Development Meet. She withdrew from that competition, before pulling out of the Grace Jackson/Queen’s Development Meet, the Miramar Invitational, and the Suzhou Diamond League, worrying fans about her health.

The Olympic and World Champion finally kicked off her year with an appearance at the 100m race in the JAAA All Comers Series competition and has now begun her 200m season as well.

Racing at the Marrakech Diamond League, Shericka Jackson stormed ahead of her competitors clocking a 22.82 that was enough to finish first.

Speaking of her win in a post-race interview, Jackson said,

“I feel good. It's just different coming here in a different city but I think I did pretty good tonight. Weather's a bit cold and windy, but nevertheless I'm healthy so I'm good.’

When asked if, at this point in the season, she was prioritizing time or execution, the Jamaican chose the latter, saying,

“It's just execution. This is my first race, well second race of the season, first 200m. I didn't know what to expect and coach and I, we were discussing a few things tonight and we did pretty good, we're ok.”

Now, the 29-year-old had a two-month period before she heading to the Jamaican National Championships which will serve as trials for the Olympics, and the sprinter is focused on peaking at the right time.

“I have a few more races before the trials.. It's a bit of a late start to the season but nevertheless we have a few races to go, so we'll be building from there and we'll definitely peak at the right time,” she said.

Shericka Jackson’s season-opening 100m win

For Shericka Jackson, while her Olympic year might have gotten off to a slightly delayed start, the patience has paid off. After multiple withdrawn entries due to undisclosed reasons, the four-time World Champion finally began her season fourth, racing at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association All Comers.

Racing on home ground at the Kingston National Stadium, Jackson got her season off to a winning start, clocking 11.03s to clinch gold, outdoing four-time U20 World Champion Tina Clayton for the win.

For Jackson, the 11.03 and 22.82 in the 100 and 200m are far from her personal bests of 10.65 and 21.41, both of which she ran last year.

With less than three months to go to the Paris Olympics fans will be watching the Jamaican like a hawk as she gets back to her peak in the coming days. Going into the Games, Shericka Jackson will enter the 200m as the fastest woman alive and is a favorite to finish atop the podium in the middle of a packed field.