The much-anticipated women's 200m had an unexpected shakeup Sunday morning, as top contender Shericka Jackson of Jamaica scratched as the Round 1 heats got underway.
Widely regarded as the favorite for the event if healthy, Jackson had been slated to run in Heat 3.
On Wednesday, Jackson announced she was pulling out of the Women's 100m.
Jackson's most recent competition was at the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix on July 9 where she pulled up in 200m. Her representation said at the time that it was due to a hamstring cramp.
Jackson is a two-time defending World Champion in the event.
This story is ongoing, and we will share more information as it becomes available.
Why did Shericka Jackson withdraw?
Jackson, the defending world champion who is the second-fastest woman of all time in the 200, had previously withdrawn from the 100 meters, saying it was partly because of a leg injury she suffered in a tuneup race last month. It is unclear why she pulled out of Sunday’s race.
Gabby Thomas and Julien Alfred Advance To Semi-Finals
It turns American Gabby Thomas into the clear favorite to win the 200. Thomas cruised through her qualifying heat in 22.20 seconds, as did Julien Alfred, who returned to the track and ran 22.41 about 13 hours after beating Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100 meters.
Jackson's Withdrawal Impacts Jamaica
All three sprinters from Jamaica’s 100-meter sweep in Tokyo have been absent in Paris. Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 100 and 200-meter champion, shut down her season earlier this year with an Achilles tendon injury.
Only minutes before Saturday night’s 100 semifinal, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce pulled out with an undisclosed injury, saying on social media “it is difficult for me to find the words to express my disappointment.”
Jackson, who won last year’s world championships in 21.41 — only .07 off Florence Griffith Joyner’s 36-year-old world record — ran a pedestrian 22.29 at her country’s Olympic trials in June.
Then, in a race in Hungary on July 9, she pulled up before the finish of a 200-meter race, leaving her form in doubt with the Olympics less than a month away.
Other 200m Heats
The Reperchage Round
The repechage round takes place during the day on Monday (5 August) before the semi-finals are held later that evening. The women's 200m final is then 20:40 local time on Tuesday (6 August).
Julien Alfred's Second Race of the Day
After a long and memorable night, Alfred was back out on the track on Sunday morning, albeit with a bend to navigate on this occasion.
In the absence of Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, who pulled up injured in the 100m final, Alfred cut a focused figure in the opening heat as she waved to the crowd before getting the business done.
Racing for the first time as an Olympic champion, the Saint Lucian had the comfort of being able to slow down with 20m to go as Frenchwoman Gemima Joseph delighted the home crowd by finishing second.
Daryll Neita Benefits From Jackson's Absence
News then started to filter through of Jackson’s withdrawal. The Jamaican was captured on the warm-up track in the shadows of the Stade de France on Sunday morning, but she did not enter the call room ahead of her heat.
Her DNS will undoubtedly have filtered through to her rivals, with 2023 worlds silver medallist Thomas going in the second heat and putting down a time of 22.20.
With Jackson’s lane vacant in the third heat, Daryll Neita comfortably won and will know her chances of a medal have now increased – the Team GB star having placed fifth at the worlds last year, and finishing fourth in the 100m on Saturday night.
“The rain [last night] was like a bit of the UK wanted to come over and be a part of it. It was an amazing achievement for me coming fourth in the 100m final, which is such an incredible event, these ladies don’t wait around.
“It keeps me motivated. I definitely need to get rest, but I look bouncy and smooth. 100 per cent [the goal is medals], why not?”
McKenzie Long and Brittany Brown
It was then the turn of two more Americans to make a statement. McKenzie Long and Brittany Brown are the second and fourth fastest female sprinters respectively this year, and will be looking to challenge for gold – never mind just the podium places.
Up first, Long eased to victory in the fourth heat with a 22.55, before Brown responded in kind when winning the fifth heat in 22.38.
Dina Asher-Smith and Favour Ofili's Strong Performances
Team GB’s Asher-Smith, the 2019 world champion, then started her campaign for a first individual Olympic medal in the sixth and final heat.
Asher-Smith slowed down to coast across the line in 22.28, with Nigeria’s Ofili putting in a season’s best 22.24 to pip the Briton.
“[I’m] taking it one race at the same,” Ofili told Olympics.com. “Make sure you win your heat and that’s it. Having people cheer for you also makes you want to be better.”
Top 10 Times
Overall, just 0.5 seconds separated the top 10, with Thomas going quickest ahead of Ofili and Asher-Smith.
Jackson's Future Uncertain
Jackson, 30, is still eligible to compete in the women's 4x100 relay on Thursday, as is other Jamaica track star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Fraser-Pryce, two-time Olympic 100 m gold medal winner, also withdrew from the individual 100 m, just moments before the semi-final race on Saturday. Team USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson, who was favorite to win gold, ended the race with a silver medal, and St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred finished with gold—a historic win, marking her country’s first ever medal.
“I’m still trying to think of what just happened,” Alfred said after the big race in Stade de France. “It hasn't sunk in yet.”
With Jackson out of the 200-m race, the floor has opened up for Alfred to potentially garner another medal for her country, and for Team USA’s Gabby Thomas, who advanced easily to the 200 m finals with a time of 22.20.
In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Team Jamaica won all nine of their medals in track events: four gold, one silver, and four bronze. With both Fraser-Pryce and Jackson’s withdrawals from the individual races—on top of gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah’s withdrawal from Paris in June—Team Jamaica, usually dominant on the track, has been dealt some heavy blows.
