RABAT, Morocco — Sprint queen Shericka Jackson returned to the track with a gritty win on Sunday, opening her 2025 season with an 11.04s finish in the women’s 100m at the Mohammed VI International Meet. Though not her sharpest start, Jackson surged ahead in the final stretch, edging Liberia’s Maia McCoy (11.08) and the USA’s Jacious Sears (11.11).
It marked Jackson’s first 100m appearance since last year’s national championships and signaled a confident return rather than a dominant one—yet enough to mark her as the lone Jamaican victor at the Moroccan Diamond League event.
Elsewhere, Jamaican thrower Rajindra Campbell came heartbreakingly close to gold. His season’s best 21.95m in the men’s shot put was overshadowed only by a world-leading 21.97m from American Payton Otterdahl, delivered in the final round to steal victory.
In the hurdles, Andrenette Knight clocked 53.90s to finish second in the women’s 400m hurdles, her fastest time of the season. She trailed only Dutch star Femke Bol, who shattered the meet record with a blazing 52.46s. Rushell Clayton, also Jamaican, placed fourth in 54.83s.
High jumpers Romaine Beckford and Raymond Richards both cleared 2.21m but didn’t medal, finishing fifth and ninth respectively. The event was won at 2.25m in a tight three-way competition.
Veteran 800m runner Natoya Goule-Toppin couldn’t break into the top pack, ending 10th with 1:59.92—her first sub-2:00 time this season, though far from her personal best.
The Rabat meet offered a mixed bag for Team Jamaica—early sparks, strong signs, but clear work ahead. Eyes now turn to the European legs of the Diamond League, where Jackson and others are expected to sharpen for the big summer showdowns.
