Olso Diamond League 2024 witnessed something it never had before! Brittany Brown, clocking at 22.32 seconds, won the 200m title, defeating sprinters like Shericka Jackson and Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith. While the Ivorian legend could settle herself in the second position (22.36 seconds), the Jamaican legend had to witness an odd outing. Shericka Jackson completed her 200m sprint in 22.97 seconds, claiming the fifth position. 

After stepping into Oslo, Shericka Jackson may have remembered her last year’s outing at Bislett Olympic Stadium. In the 100m event, she failed to defeat her arch-rival Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith, but her clocking remained enough to peep Olympic medalist Dina Asher-Smith. However, this time, before participating in her 200m race, the Jamaican champion murmured, “I am loving it here so far, the weather is beautiful.” As optimistic and confident as she sounded, the tile was a far reach this time as Brittany Brown, the American sprinter, defeated Shericka Jackson in the 200m event. 

Brittany Brown’s time, 22.32 seconds, looked not only defiant compared to Shericka’s timing in Oslo, but also was superior to the world champion’s season-debut 200m sprint timing in (22.82 seconds) Marrakech a few days ago. However, as things display, Brittany Brown has undergone many changes to give a wholesome performance today. 

In an IG share on April 9, the 28-year-old athlete had flaunted her power routine. She named her “all these changes, alignments, transformations” as part of the “story of her life.” That looked like a poised reality as her performance proved her comeback from her failure to get to the podium at the Prefontaine Classic 5 days ago.

Rather, Brittany Brown’s 200m performance in the USATF LA Grand Prix could not raise much hype as she touched the finishing line 0.28 seconds behind Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone, the topper. However, this big win may settle Brittany a little, defeating not only Shericka Jackson but also names like Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith and Daryll Neita. But with Shericka, it seemed to be special. 

After the Budapest World Athletics Championships 2023, it was the second time Brittany had countered the Tokyo Olympics medalist in an individual event. Shericka’s raw pace in Budapest kept her far ahead compared to the American sprinter in the evening 100m event. Furthermore, Brittany’s performance today is her first win against the Jamaican powerhouse after facing multiple setbacks from the latter. But will this defeat make Shericka Jackson’s position vulnerable in the Paris Olympics season? 

Shericka Jackson is on her way, improving the pace and hope 

On Brittany Brown’s day out in Bislett Olympic Stadium, Shericka Jackson failed to improve her 200m timing this season. After the brilliant season opener, it was the first time she faced three sprinters who boasted mastery of finishing the event in sub-22 seconds. However, the defeat may not leave Shericka Jackson worrying. The reason is that she is not chasing the best timings in the sprint this time. Her eyes are centered on a unique goal. 

During the Tokyo Olympics prelims, Shericka Jackson’s fate did not gel with her well, as she was rejected because of a technical error. But this time, the 200m world champion was on her way to erase her sad experience. So, at the first stage, she wanted to keep her fitness top-notch to push her through the gates. 

Her time-tested goal led her to say, “Once I finish healthy tomorrow, I am better shape than I was two weeks ago so I am looking forward to great things.” As per Shericka, the ‘great thing’ will be to appear in the Jamaican track and field trial. Therefore, a fifth-place finish may not unsettle her plan as she remained in the sub-22 category on her enigmatic day. But for Brittany Brown, today is her comeback day.