Jackson smashes championship and national record to win World Champs 200m gold

Shericka Jackson ran the second fastest time in the history of women's 200 meters to become the fastest woman alive for that event after scorching to a championship and national record of 21.45 seconds to win the half lap event on Thursday’s 7^th day of competition at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Jackson who was winning her first individual gold medal at the World Championships, blitzed the field to lead home a Jamaica 1-2 finish with 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce copping silver in a season's best 21.81 seconds.

Only the late Florence Griffith-Joyner's world record of 21.34 seconds is faster than Jackson’s time.

Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah was seventh in 22.39 seconds, while defending champion Dina Asher-Smith was third in 22.02 seconds.

The country's medal tally now stands at six, two gold three silver and a bronze.

Meanwhile, Noah Lyles clocked the third fastest time in history to win the men's 200 meters in 19.31 seconds and lead home an American sweep.

Elsewhere, Natoya Goule and Adelle Tracey are into the  semi-finals of the women's 800 metres after contrasting first round performances.

Goule won her heat in 2 minutes, 00. 06 seconds to be the fourth fastest qualifier heading into the semis. She will line up in semi-final 2 at 8:45 pm on Friday that features Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson.

Tracey is the third fastest heading into the semis after clocking a personal best of 1 minute, 59.20 seconds to finish third in the opening heat behind Ethiopian Diribe Welteji in 1:58.93 seconds. She goes in semi-final 1 with American Ajee Wilson.

Chris-Ann Gordon-Powell failed to make progress after logging 2 minutes, 01.91 seconds for fifth in her heat.