Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

In this her final year of competition at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, Vere Technical's Shericka Jackson is not only aiming to delight those who will turn out at the five-day meet at the National Stadium, but also wants to "put a smile on her father's face".

"I have been training really hard, so I just want to make my coach (Constantine Haughton), mother, and especially my father proud. I always want my father to smile. I just always want him to feel proud of me," Jackson revealed. "I am just going to Champs to do my best and give Vere the maximum amount of points possible."

sixth Champs appearance

The 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships 200m bronze medallist, who is making her sixth Champs appearance, captured gold in both the 200m and 400m in 2012 with times of 24.26 seconds and 53.74 seconds, respectively, and is hoping to repeat the feat.

"Everybody wants to win, but not everybody can win, so the best person will win on the day," Jackson said. "I am going out there to give it my best and hope my best will be good enough.

"In the 400m, I know my teammate Olivia James and Chris-Ann Gordon (Holmwood) will be my main threats. In the 200m, my main rivals are Monique Spencer from Edwin Allen and Jodean Williams (St Mary High), so it will be two great events on the final day of Champs."

The 18-year-old Jackson had some niggling injuries that kept her out of competitive action for two months. She returned to the track on January 26 and has since hit top form, winning the under-20 girls' 200m in a personal best (PB) time of 23.06 seconds two weeks ago at the Carifta Trials.

Her PB in the 400m is 52.94 seconds, which she ran at Champs in her first year in Class Two.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com