Athletics stars Jackson and Thompson-Herah have high hopes for the 2025 season

Jamaican athletics superstars, Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah who were plugged by injuries in the 2024 season have high hopes of making the podium in 2025.
Jackson had her first competition over the weekend and despite a second-place finish in what is the first race of her season, Jackson’s coach at MVP, Paul Francis, is happy.
The World Athletics Championships 200-metre gold medallist clocked 7.18 seconds in the women’s 60 metres at Queen’s Grace Jackson meet, failing to catch Jodean Williams, who was off to a very quick start, winning in a decent 7.15.
Jonielle Smith, training partner of Jackson at MVP, finished third overall in 7.21 seconds after winning her heat.
Jackson did not speak after her race but Francis commented on his charge’s opening run.
“I am pleased with her performance in her first race of the season, as she came close to her personal best. She is healthy and we are looking forward to the remainder of the season,” said Francis.
When asked when she will compete again, Francis's response was: “We will be going back to the training ground on Monday and we will see what develops from there.”
Jackson’s compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah is also eyeing a strong 2025 comeback but injuries have been a nightmare in her athletics journey.
Thompson-Herah hopes her injury will just go away as she eyes a strong comeback in the 2025 season.
Elaine has struggled with a series of injuries in the past seasons and in a past interview, she admitted that they have caused her much agony and her main wish is to wake up one day feeling better.
The multiple Olympic champion insisted that not being in a position to clock faster times like she used to do is a tough thing to watch as she added that the tons of disappointments have made her stronger over the past seasons.
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The injury woes began in mid-2017 when Elaine Thompson-Herah developed a recurring Achilles tendon injury that affected her training and performance.
She has struggled to make an impact for a long and even missed the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after experiencing discomfort in her right leg at the USATF NYC Grand Prix.
She had a strong start from the blocks but encountered a hitch during the race, crossing the finish line last in a time of 11.48 seconds and was unable to walk off the track.
“Disappointment does come but as I said I have to continue to work hard because I didn’t go to a championship to lose, it was just beyond my control,” Thompson-Herah said in an interview with Olympics.com.
“We just have to use those disappointments to motivate ourselves. That’s the key, disappointments make you better and stronger because I know what I’m facing is just this one injury that is lingering and I just hope that it goes away one day.”
She revealed that being an elite athlete going through the struggles is painful to watch since most of her fans have expectations and if she fails to deliver, it becomes a problem.
Elaine admitted that for the longest time, she has always asked herself questions regarding her injuries and wondered why it always had to happen to her.
“The key is just to stay strong because sometimes, it’s maybe a little bit stressful to be a top athlete facing all these obstacles,” she revealed.
“You can’t produce the times that you normally produce and you might not be able to get a medal at a championship and sometimes you sit and wonder, ‘Why me?’ or ‘Why is this happening?’.”
Missing the Paris Olympic Games was a huge setback for her since she badly wanted to defend her 100m and 200m titles.
The injuries have slowed her down for long and as she looks to make a comeback after taking time off, Elaine Thompson-Herah wants to make a statement and return to the top of the sprinting scene.