Cited disrespect shown to Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson for US Star, Abby Steiner

Jamaican track fans have come out on social media criticising the promotion by World Athletics Championships for the women’s 200m even, which will be a fierce competition.

For promotion, the World Athletics Twitter account came out with posters featuring the top contenders for every event with the women’s 200m race highlighting Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thomson-Herah and American, Abby Steiner.

However, comparing personal best times, Thompson-Herah (21.53) and Shericka Jackson (21.55) were edged out to provide centre stage for Abby Steiner (21.77). The fans of the two Jamaican athletes felt incredibly offended by this decision.

Jamaican fans were openly enraged on social media for Jackson and Thompson-Herah. One comment from a Jamaican fan read: “Never seen our athletes get disrespected this much.”

Jamaican fans highly critical

However, many defended that it was an “aesthetic decision” more than anything else. However, the Jamaican fans weren’t having it with one questioning why people were defending this as a design choice, commenting, “you ever see them rearrange the podium based on design?”

The 2022 World Athletics Championships start this weekend (July 15) and will feature some tremendous match-ups of track and field athletes around the world.  The 200m women’s event is attracting a lot of attention.

Reigning champion Dina Asher-Smith will be looking to retain her title, competing against current world-lead Shericka Jackson.  Also featured in the race is the second-fastest ever in the discipline Elaine-Thompson Herah.

Unfortunately, Gabby Thomas will miss out on the championships because of a hamstring injury while Sha’Carri Richardson failed to qualify for the event. Other notable contenders include the Olympic silver medalist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Steiner, who holds the second-best time this season.

With three of Jamaica’s top sprinters competing in the discipline, Jackson, Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce, Jamaican fans are hoping to see a Jamaican sweep at the event with all podium places filled by the team.  Originally, the championships were scheduled for the 2021 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to a postponement.

The final entry lists confirm that more than 1,900 athletes from 192 teams will take part in the competition. Among them, 37 are looking to defend their titles from the 2019 edition of the championships.