Jackson set for return at Queen’s Grace Jackson Invitational

Following her spectacular withdrawal from competition at the Paris Olympics last year, Shericka Jackson is expected to make her highly anticipated return to the track at the Queen's Grace Jackson Invitational Meet inside the National Stadium on Saturday.

Jackson, one of the hottest sprinters in both the 100 and 200 metres, was expected to put in dominant performances in Paris last year, before being hobbled by fitness issues, which saw her not compete though journeying with the Jamaica team for the global event.

Co-founder and chief organiser of the Queen's Grace Jackson Invitational, Olive McNaughton, noted that the much-loved sprinter has been carded for the early season meet, which involves senior and junior high-school competitors.

"Shericka has been entered for the meet to contest the women's 60 metres and, normally, this is the meet she usually opens with and we are looking forward to see her here," said McNaughton.

McNaughton also confirmed that British sprinter Zharnell Hughes, of Racers Track Club, who was schooled in Jamaica at Kingston College, is also among the big-name athletes down to participate. He will be contesting the men's 60 metres.

Several senior athletes from local institutions and clubs, including MVP, SPRINtec Swept, Racers, Mico University College and University of Technology, will also compete.

A normal part of the annual event involved recognition to individuals who have played a significant role in the meet, and, by extension, Jamaica's track and field. McNaughton stated that, for 2025, there will be three honourees, including the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Roje Stona and Shanieka Ricketts, along with Queen's alumnus Jascinth Royal, who has been a member of the organising committee for over 20 years.

"We are happy to recognise all three individuals and I must say that Stona is the under-20 discus record holder of the meet, and Ricketts is also the record holder in the female triple jump," she shared.

The meet is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. with the girls' Class Three 400m and ends at 6:54 p.m. with the men's 60 metres.

Other events on the track include 200m, 800m and 4x400m relays, while, in the field, there will be the discus throw, high jump and long jump.

McNaughton says all is in place for the 23rd staging of the meet.

"Despite some earlier challenges, including a wait-and-see to get the use of the National Stadium, all is set for tomorrow's staging of the Grace Jackson Invitational Meet," said McNaughton.

Over 1,800 athletes from high schools, clubs and institutions are down to participate, and McNaughton noted that there was a challenge to get sponsorship.

"It was really a challenge to get sponsorship for the meet but we have overcome this and we are looking forward to a very exciting day of competition as high-school athletes seek qualification standards for March 25-29's ISSA Boys and Girl's Athletics Championships," she continued.

"I am also happy to see that former female high-schools Queen's and Vere Technical will be at the meet in full force, and several non-traditional high-school teams will be in attendance, which is very good," she stated.