Shericka Jackson stumbled in her 200m return at the Xiamen Diamond League, as Anavia Battle surged to a stunning victory.
Two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson was expected to make a triumphant return to the track at the Xiamen Diamond League after a long injury layoff, but the night did not go according to script.
In her first 200m race of the year, Jackson was dramatically beaten to the line by American Anavia Battle, who delivered a sensational performance that electrified the stadium.
Coming into the meet as the overwhelming favorite, Jackson looked composed and ready to dominate.
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After missing out on the Paris 2024 Olympics due to injury, this race was supposed to be her statement of intent.
However, Anavia Battle had other plans. Bursting out of the blocks with incredible speed and running a near-flawless curve, Battle surged ahead on the home straight and never looked back.
She crossed the finish line in a stunning 22.41 seconds, setting a new meet record and pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the day.
Jackson, despite launching a strong comeback in the final 50 meters, had to settle for second place, clocking 22.79 seconds.
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Close behind her was Jenna Prandini of the United States, who finished third in 22.97 seconds, narrowly edging out China's Yujie Chen, who impressed with a personal best of 22.99 seconds.
Further down the field, Great Britain’s Amy Hunt finished fifth in 23.06 seconds, just ahead of Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbaï, who posted 23.14.
China’s Yuting Li and the USA’s Twanisha Terry placed seventh and eighth respectively, while Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji, another big name in the field, finished ninth in 23.51 seconds.
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The Jamaican sprint star had not competed since the Stockholm Diamond League last June and was hoping for a smoother return.
Despite the disappointment, there were positives to take from her performance — a solid time and no signs of injury trouble.
"It’s been a long road back, and while tonight wasn’t the fairy tale I hoped for, I’m grateful to be racing again. I’ll keep working," she said before the race as per World Athletics.
Meanwhile, Anavia Battle’s breakthrough run cements her as a rising force in the women's 200m, sending a clear warning to the world's best as the Diamond League season unfolds.