EUGENE, Oregon – Jamaican Shericka Jackson completed a double at the Prefontaine Classic here Saturday when she dominated the women’s 200 meters at the season-ending Diamond League meet.
Jamaican Shericka Jackson.The 29-year-old clocked a new meet record 21.57 seconds but failed in her quest to break late American Florence Giffith-Joyner’s 35-year-old World record of 21.34.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou ran second in a season-best 22.10 while Bahamian Anthonique Strachan clocked 22.16 to be third.
“Funny enough last year one of my goals I wrote that how I wanted to get two trophies,” Jackson said.
“I didn’t get two trophies last year and I rewrote that again, that I wanted two trophies this year.
“I got it and I’m grateful. The end of the season. I’m healthy and I ran some fast times. So I’m definitely grateful.”
Strachan in lane eight stayed with Jackson, in lane seven, until the top of the stretch when the reigning World champion pulled away imperiously.
Olympic champion Jamaican Hansle Parchment, meanwhile, captured the men’s sprint hurdles, clocking a world-leading 12.93 seconds.
He beat three-time reigning World champion Grant Holloway into second, the American stopping the clock at 13.06.
“The start wasn’t perfect, I was really thinking a lot about getting a better start to really be a little bit more competitive,” said the 33-year-old Parchment, a silver medalist at last month’s Budapest World Championships.
“I think I still put it together mostly. Got the PR (personal record), got the win, so I’m very happy about that.
“We’re tired, we’ve been competing for months now, it’s really brilliant to be able to carry this season up until the end.”
Jamaican Tajay Gaye finished second in the men’s long jump, measuring 8.22 meters behind winner Simon Ehammer of Switzerland who leapt the same distance.
