Jackson pulls out of Florida meet

THE ANSIN Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida will be buzzing with excitement today as 29 Jamaicans will be in action at the 2024 Miramar Invitational meet.

World 200 metres champion Shericka Jackson was expected to make her season debut at the meet but announced her withdrawal early yesterday. In a post on her Facebook page yesterday Jackson wrote: “Unfortunately Shericka won’t be competing at the Miramar Invitational this Saturday. Will definitely keep y’all updated whenever the season opener is scheduled.”

Jackson did not give a reason for her withdrawal.

In a recent interview in CITIUS MAG Jackson hinted that she could run some fast times in 2024.

“Yes, the world record (21.34) is on our minds but it’s not something we are going to dwell on in every race … Once I’m healthy and once I’m in peak form, anything is possible,” Jackson said in an article published on March 25.

Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte is down to contest the 200m at the meet while the United States will be represented by 400m hurdles specialist Shamier Little, Britton Wilson and Talitha Diggs. Sada Williams of Barbados, the World Championships 400m bronze medallist will also run in the event.

Several Jamaicans will contest the women’s and men’s 100m. The preliminary round of the women’s event will open the meet at 10:36 a.m. before the men bow into in action at 10:51 a.m.

Eight Jamaicans will face the starter in the women’s 100m. They are Natasha Morrison, Shashalee Forbes, Tia and Tina Clayton, Yanique Dayle, Kasheika Cameron, Shockora Williams and Alana Reid. Melissa Jefferson, English Gardener and Alysha Johnson will compete for the United States. The ‘B’ final will get underway at 12:35 p.m. with the ‘A’ final five minutes later.

Ackeem Blake and training partner Yohan Blake will headline the six Jamaicans down to contest the men’s event. Rohan Watson, Kishane Thompson, Michael Campbell and Andre Ewers will also be in action. The ‘B’ final is down for 12:35 p.m. and the ‘A’ final at 12:40 p.m.

Sprint hurdlers Amoi Brown, Ackera Nugent and Demisha Roswell will be in action in the preliminary round of the women’s 100m hurdles at 11:19 a.m. as they look to book their places in the final set for 12:50 p.m.

Marvin Williams will be the first Jamaican to contest a track final as he will do so in the men’s 400m hurdles set for 12:02 p.m.

World Indoor 400m bronze medallist Rusheen McDonald will line up in the 400m final at 12:09 p.m. where he will face American Michael Cherry and Alonso Russell of the Bahamas.

World Championships 400m hurdles finalist Janieve Russell will be in action in the women’s 400 metres final at 12:17 p.m.

Jamaicans Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason will run in the 110m hurdles final at 1 p.m. and Chris Ann Gordon-Powell in the women’s 600m final at 1:25 p.m.

Five Jamaicans will also be involved in three field events finals. The women’s long jump to be contested at 10:30 a.m. will see Tissana Hickling and Chanice Porter in action.

At noon Tajay Gayle will contest the men’s long jump final while Lloydricia Cameron and Danniel Thomas-Dodd will be in the women’s shot put final at 12:05 p.m.