Jackson, Richardson are favourites for women century at the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships

Jamaican Shericka Jackson and American Sha'Carri Richardson are both favorites for the women's 100m title at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month.

 Jackson became the fifth fastest woman of all time as she clocked 10.65 seconds to win the 100m at Jamaica's national championships.

It was the fastest time in the world this year - beating the 10.71 run by Sha'Carri Richardson at the US championships.

Jackson, who is tied with American Marion Jones for fifth on the all-time list, said she could still improve.

"I think the ending needs a little fixing," said the 28-year-old.

"I know I'm a strong finisher, but I still need to work on that a bit. I have to go back to the drawing board with a coach, but I did a very good job."

The women's world record is 10.49 - set by Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.

Friday's victory means Jackson - 200m champion and 100m silver medallist at last year's World Championships in Oregon - will be heading to the World Championships in Budapest in August.

She will be joined by Shashalee Forbes and Natasha Morrison, who came second and third respectively, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also qualifies as defending world champion.

Two-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, however, will not feature after coming fifth following an injury-affected season.

Richardson ran the fastest time in the world this year on Thursday before Jackson bettered her efforts 24 hours later

Richardson, meanwhile, followed up Thursday's personal best to win the women's 100m at the US championships.

 

The 23-year-old missed the Tokyo Olympics because of a ban for a positive cannabis test and failed to reach last year's World Championships.

However, her victory in 10.82secs ahead of Brittany Brown and Tamari Davis booked a long-awaited place at a major championship.

"I'm not back, I'm better," Richardson said.

"I'm ready mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I'm here to stay."

Richardson's future in the sport was a major storyline heading into the championships. She won the 2019 NCAA women's outdoor 100-meter at LSU when she was 19 and followed it up with the top time at the 2020 United States Olympic Trials.

But Richardson was unable to compete for gold in Tokyo after the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that she had tested positive for THC after her win. Richardson's one-month suspension for the positive test disqualified her from competing as an individual in the 100 but she was eligible to return for the 4x100-meter relay. However, she wasn't named to the Olympic team.

 

Shortly after her suspension was announced, Richardson said she had used marijuana to cope with the sudden death of her mother.

“It sent me into a state of emotional panic,” Richardson told NBC in 2021 about the news of her mother's death. “I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.”

Until this week, Richardson didn't look the same since her controversial suspension. She finished last at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic — her return to the track— and failed to make the finals for the 100- and 200-meter races at the 2022 USATF Championships.

This victory, though, perhaps signaled both to her country and to the world that Richardson is just as good as she was two years ago. Richardson will now head to Budapest to represent the United States at the World Championships in August.

"Now, I stand here with you again and I'm ready, mentally, physically, and emotionally," Richardson said after her victory. "I'm here to say. 'I'm not back, I'm better.'"