In a heated debate that has stirred Jamaica’s athletic circles, American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has jumped to the defense of Shericka Jackson amid criticism over her anchor role in the women’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China. Fans and commentators alike questioned why sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wasn’t assigned the final leg instead.
Despite Jackson anchoring the team to a third-place finish behind Great Britain and Spain, many Jamaican supporters were left unsatisfied, believing the veteran Fraser-Pryce could have delivered a better outcome. However, Gatlin, speaking on the Ready Set Go podcast, countered that argument with a dose of expert insight, emphasizing the importance of strategic energy distribution in relay racing.
“I want people to understand it’s about balancing energy,” Gatlin explained. “So the performance Shericka gave for that anchor, if you had flipped it over to her running the second leg, then you have to realize that Shelly-Ann would have a bigger deficit once she got the relay.”
Gatlin elaborated that putting Fraser-Pryce on anchor would have demanded more effort on her part to chase down powerhouses like the USA, Great Britain, or Spain. “She would have to do more of a job to be able to run down the USA, Great Britain and Spain,” he said. “We both know as former athletes and coaches, 10.10 doesn’t catch 10.0.”
He also addressed a viral video where fans pushed the narrative that Fraser-Pryce should have anchored instead. Gatlin believes such decisions can’t be made based on popularity or sentiment. “You can’t just plug and play athletes and expect results,” he added. “The relay is a structure; athletes need to get comfortable in their roles for success.”
The 2004 Olympic gold medalist noted that if Jackson had underperformed, criticism might be valid—but that wasn’t the case. The baton was delivered smoothly, and the team earned a spot at the World Championships.
Drawing from his vast experience, Gatlin urged patience and understanding from fans. “Most of the time, athletes pick the legs they’re most comfortable with. Coaches and runners know what works,” he said, highlighting that consistency will be key as the team builds momentum toward global competitions.
