For years, the Jamaicans kept their fists tightly closed when it came to the gold. By 2023, they had swept four titles in six editions of the World Championships. And just when they had Shericka Jackson for the 100m event, the fastest woman that year, Sha’Carri Richardson dashed their hopes. Qualifying from a non-automatic spot, standing in the outer lane, the incoming sprinter was focused on the finish line.

With an extraordinary acceleration, she clocked in 10.65s in the 100m win. It was 0.02 seconds less than last year’s winner, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. And with that win, Jamaica saw its warning. Although this time, the event is different, the situation is different, the warning remains the same. At the USATF Outdoors Championships in Eugene, the reigning 100 m world champion lined up in lane 7 for Heat 2 of the 200 m, facing competitors like Madison Whyte and McKenzie Long.

At the gun, Sha’Carri got a quick start from the blocks. Still, it was clear Richardson wasn’t in contention for the first spot as McKenzie Long quickly pulled away. Second place was out of reach by the curve. The real fight was for third, with Richardson and Madison Whyte locked in a tight battle to the line. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Sha’Carri finished fourth in 22.56 seconds. Things didn’t unfold as expected, and her performance ultimately fell short of the mark for the US 200m spot. But a fact in her defeat returned the warning for Jamaica.

According to a fan, The Green Machine, “Fun Fact: Sha’carri Richardson’s 22.56 would have made her the National Champion at Jamaican Trials 🇯🇲!”

At the 2025 JAAA National Trials in Kingston, Ashanti Moore won the women’s 200 m final in 22.66 seconds, with Gabrielle Matthews second (22.80s), and Roneisha McGregor third (22.86s). Clearly, Richardson is faster than the Jamaican 200m national title holder, who already couldn’t clinch the 100m spot.

In fact, the athlete who ranked 9th among all the athletes across three heats of the 200m at the USATF Championships is still faster than the Jamaican national champion in the same discipline. So, there are eight Americans faster than the Jamaican national champion.

Now, if we put Melissa Jefferson‑Wooden ( 22.06 s), McKenzie Long (22.12 s), and Gabby Thomas (22.19s) here, the worrying turns gruesome. Jamaica will now probably take this as a challenge to win the gold at the World Championships. But let’s not forget the 2023 World Champion in the 200m.

The fastest woman alive over the women’s 200 m is Shericka Jackson of Jamaica; her lifetime best of 21.41 s (set at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest) is the second-fastest legal time ever recorded, behind only Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 21.34s from 1988. She did not race at the nationals because she has a bye for 200m at Tokyo. But without her, Jamaicans might need to grind their teeth for a win.

Jamaican domination might be in danger…

From 2011 to 2023, Jamaican women didn’t just compete in the 200 meters at the World Championships; they owned it. It started with Veronica Campbell-Brown in 2011, blazing to gold in 22.22 seconds in Daegu. Two years later, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Moscow, clocked 22.17 seconds to proudly stand atop the podium.

Then came Shericka Jackson, who took things to another level. In 2022, she stunned the world with a blistering 21.45 seconds. As if that wasn’t enough, she returned in 2023 and ran even faster, 21.41 seconds, solidifying her place in history.

While Sha’Carri Richardson finishing fourth in her heat raised eyebrows, her 22.56 was still faster than Jamaica’s national champion — and that’s where the real story begins. Sha’Carri wasn’t even close to qualifying in the U.S. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Gabby Thomas, both running well under 22.2, are shaping up to be real threats. If Shericka Jackson falters or doesn’t hit top form, Jamaica could find itself vulnerable.

Let’s just say that this isn’t just about one bad heat or one fast time. It’s a sign that the U.S. women are closing the gap. And maybe even flipping the script. If Jackson blinks, there are at least two Americans ready to take her place. And Sha’Carri, even in defeat, gave them a fair future warning. Share your thoughts!