The Xiamen Diamond League delivered a night of high drama as two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson suffered a shock defeat in her long-awaited return to the track. American sprinter Anavia Battle seized the moment, delivering a blistering performance to claim a stunning victory.
A surprising turn of events
Shericka Jackson entered the meet as the overwhelming favorite despite her extended absence from competition. After missing the Paris 2024 Olympics due to injury, this race was meant to mark her resurgence. However, the night unfolded in an unexpected fashion.
Anavia Battle exploded out of the blocks with explosive speed, mastering the curve and surging ahead on the home straight. Her flawless execution left Jackson scrambling to close the gap in the final 50 meters, but Battle held firm, crossing the line in a meet-record time of 22.41 seconds. Jackson, visibly pushing hard in the final stretch, had to settle for second place in 22.79 seconds.
Jackson’s post-race reflections
Despite the setback, Jackson remained optimistic in her post-race interview, emphasizing that her primary goal was to test her fitness after a long layoff.
“I’m feeling good. I just wanted to see where I’m at, and I think I did pretty good tonight,” she said.
“It’s obviously a nice place to be in April with over four months to the World Championships.”
“I’m a coach, and I would have to sit down and analyze those races. It’s not for me to do. As I said, I’m healthy, so I’m good.”
Battle’s Breakthrough Moment
Anavia Battle has long been regarded as a rising talent, but her commanding win over a decorated champion like Jackson sends a strong message to the sprinting world. Her 22.41-second run not only shattered the meet record but also announced her as a serious contender in the women’s 200m as the Diamond League season progresses.
Speaking after her unexpected triumph, Battle expressed both relief and excitement.
“This is my opener. I was a little nervous because I haven’t run the 200 yet this season. But I’m happy I did it here. I had good competition and a really good feel. That 15-hour flight was tough, but I had to suck it up and compete,” she said.
Battle also confirmed that this race was part of her strategy to sharpen up for both the 100m and 200m events at the upcoming U.S. Championships.
“Me and my coach have been really working on the first half of my 100m, and it’s been paying off a lot.”
Behind the leading duo, the USA’s Jenna Prandini secured third place in 22.97 seconds, narrowly edging out China’s Yujie Chen, who set a personal best of 22.99 seconds. Britain’s Amy Hunt finished fifth (23.06), followed by Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbaï (23.14). China’s Yuting Li and the USA’s Twanisha Terry took seventh and eighth, respectively, while Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji, a seasoned competitor, finished ninth in 23.51 seconds.
If Anavia Battle maintains this momentum, she could emerge as a major threat in global sprinting, challenging established stars like Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Gabby Thomas.