Shericka Jackson Retains Women's 200m World Title With Stunning Run

Shericka Jackson produced the second fastest women's 200m time in history to destroy a top-class field and retain her world title in Budapest on Friday. The 29-year-old Jamaican's victory was never in doubt as she ran a superb bend to enter the straight with a clear lead and finished in a stunning 21.41sec. USA's Olympic bronze medallist Gabby Thomas took silver in 21.81sec while her compatriot Sha'Carri Richardson ran a personal best of 21.92sec to add a bronze medal to the gold she impressively won in the 100m.

It was sweet revenge for Jackson after she had to settle for silver behind Richardson in the 100m.

Her time was just seven hundredths of a second slower than the world record set by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988, suggesting she could break the mark one day.

"As an athlete you have to bounce back from what you would probably call a disappointment," Jackson told the BBC.

"One of my main goals this season was to win both 100 and 200. It didn't happen. I said 'it's not supposed to happen'.

"I think I did pretty good tonight. Ah, 21.41, I'm getting there, I'm getting to where I want to be and tonight was a living testimony of never give up.

"I'm pretty proud, especially for my community. I know my Mum was going on bad (excited)."

She looked surprised when informed she was the first Jamaican to defend the 200m title since Merlene Ottey, who followed up her win in 1993 with gold two years later.

Griffith-Joyner's record has long been clouded by suspicions it was fuelled by doping but Jackson said she would not cast aspersions. "Firstly, and I said this last year, if a person never failed a test I cannot comment on any world record. I am not the world record holder."

'Stayed composed'

The Jamaican, who moved