Jamaica’s world champion sprinter Shericka Jackson withdrew from the women’s 200m just minutes before her heat on Sunday morning.
Jackson had pulled out of the 100m earlier this week in a bid to focus on the 200m – the event that she has won at each of the last two World Championships.
But she failed to take to the start line on Sunday, and it now remains to be seen whether she will compete in the 4x100m relay in the coming days.
The reason behind Jackson’s withdrawal is yet to be clarified, but it represents another major blow for Jamaica after legendary sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the 100m semi-finals on Saturday evening.
Fraser-Pryce – the 100m Olympic champion in 2008 and 2012 – has had an injury-hit season, but cruised through her heat on Friday morning.
Shericka Jackson (pictured) pulled out of the women’s 200m on Sunday morning
Jackson is a two-time world champion and the second fastest woman ever over the distance
Her withdrawal comes after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the 100m on Saturday
However, it was confirmed that she would not be racing just moments before the semi-finals got underway.
Jackson and Fraser-Pryce would be expected to lead Jamaica’s relay team, but must now be considered doubts for the event.
Jackson missing out is a cruel setback for the 30-year-old who is the second fastest women’s 200m runner of all time behind USA’s Florence Griffith Joyner.
She was also part of the relay team that took gold in the 4x100m in Tokyo three years ago.
The 200m heats took place without Jackson on Sunday morning, with Team GB’s trio of Daryll Neita, Dina Asher-Smith and Bianca Williams all progressing to the semi-finals.
100m finalist Daryll Neita (pictured) led a trio of Brits into the 200m semi-finals
Neita finished fourth in Saturday’s 100m final and cruised to victory in her heat. Asher-Smith missed out on the final but put that disappointment behind her to produce a solid run, while Williams also finished strongly to book her place in the semi-finals.
100m champion Julien Alfred continued her exceptional form as St Lucia’s first ever Olympic medalist won her heat at a canter.
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