When Noah Lyles went down on one knee and popped the big question in front of a pink fluffy heart, the moment was nothing short of picture-perfect for Junelle Bromfield. The duo started dating almost two years ago but came into the limelight at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The journey since has been a storied one. Noah recently took to Instagram and announced the engagement and wrote, “To My Future Wife, I Will Love You Forever.”

It was truly a fever dream for Junelle Bromfield. The announcement, of course, took social media by storm within minutes of its posting. And soon after came pictures from familiar faces of the track and field community. Junelle’s Instagram stories show many Jamaican athletes at the venue. Sprinters including Ackera Nugent, Britany Anderson, Cherokee Young, and hurdler Orlando Bennett were present. However, amidst the star-packed evening, one name seemed to be missing from the guest list.

Shericka Jackson, Junelle’s close friend and longtime supporter, was nowhere to be seen, given the deep bond that the two share. Jackson’s absence has definitely kick-started the spirals of speculation. The two have been supporting each other for years. When Shericka received her honorary degree from the University of Technology, Junelle was the first to clap. The friend, full of pride, responded the same, writing, “Watch mi fren, you deserve this.” This is not a frivolous friendship for the camera, either!

When Shericka won the 200m victory at the World Athletics Championships, Junelle was quick to celebrate the win. She took it to Instagram, sharing multiple posts and writing, “She is not here to play.” Shericka Jackson was a constant feature on Bromfield’s feed. They have their offline moments of sisterhood as well. At the Olympics, Junelle helped Shericka out with her prep before the race. As Noah puts it, “That’s Shericka’s wig woman right there. She would just buy wigs for her to bring to the Olympics yesterday.”

On the outside, it sure did seem like a friendship that has weathered all storms. Given such a history of mutual support, the question on everyone’s mind was—why wasn’t Shericka there to celebrate Junelle’s big moment? Could the recent wave of rivalry between the U.S. and Jamaica have played a role in Shericka’s absence?

Is Shericka Jackson’s absence from Junelle Bromfield’s engagement a sign of keeping a historic rivalry alive?

The rivalry between the United States and Jamaica in track and field is an old yet stimulating saga. The rivalry has, over the years, produced some of the greatest moments in sports history. May it be Usain Bolt running against Justin Gatlin or Sha’Carri Richardson against Julien Alfred, it has hands down been some of the most exciting sprints. However, this rivalry came back with new faces at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

When Noah Lyles beat Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and won the 100m Gold, it did not take long before the hate started to pour in, with many blaming Junnelle for giving out Jamaican secrets to Noah. This backlash put Junelle Bromfield in a difficult position, caught between her relationship with Lyles and her Jamaican heritage. It escalated to a point where Junelle Bromfield could not return home.

Considering the heat that Noah and Junelle Bromfield have experienced in the last few months. This could be a tactical move, too. Shericka might have chosen to stay away to avoid building any additional controversy or, worse, tick off the troll train. Above all, the background of the rivalry could end up hurting Shericka Jackson’s allegiance to her country. Yet, the long-standing relationship and support the two have sure does leave some room for optimism. Fans can only hope that the absence was merely a tactical bump in the road for the duo.