PARIS (AP) — Shericka Jackson of Jamaica said Wednesday she will not run in the 100 meters when Olympic track starts, clearing away one of the sprinters who had been expected to give Sha’Carri Richardson her toughest competition in the sport’s marquee event.
Jackson did not go into details when she confirmed she would focus only on the 200, which is typically her better event.
The opening round for the women’s 100 is Friday at the Stade de France.
Jackson pulled up with a leg cramp at an Olympic tuneup race in Hungary earlier this month, but her coach, Stephen Francis, told the Jamaica Gleaner website this week that “she appears OK to me.”
Defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah is not at the Olympics, also dealing with injuries. Another Jamaican, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is competing in her fifth and final Games. She has two gold medals at 100 meters, in 2008 and 2012.
Richardson is the reigning world champion at 100 meters.
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