This performance isn't staying in Vegas.
Let's just say that right now.
Detroit Renaissance High School junior Kaila Jackson exploded for the nation's fastest all conditions 200 meter performance this weekend at the AAU West Coast Junior Olympic Games in Las Vegas, Nevada, clocking a time of 22.85 seconds.
What's amazing, though, is that the Michigan native had run just three other times under 24 seconds over the 2021 season, hitting a season-best time of 23.69 (NWI) seconds at the Detroit City Championships on May 29, and previously 23.71 seconds at the MHSAA LP Region meet on May 22.
Jackson also went 23.45 (+0.9) during the first round of the 200m at the West Coast JO Games.
So did this come out of nowhere?
Not quite.
* Jackson in March at the MITS Indoor State Championships; she won the 60m
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In June, Jackson scored the sprint double at the Michigan Division I State Championships, winning the 100m and 200m with impressive times of 11.70 (-1.2) and 24.01 (-5.1) seconds, respectively. Her 200m title was her second since 2019, when she won as a freshman in 24.04 seconds.
That same year, Jackson ran under 24 seconds for the first time, hitting 23.78 on the clock at the AAU Region 12 Qualifier.
But she largely achieved those feats with crazy headwinds.
So her performance in Las Vegas left no doubt. And it also qualified her for the AAU Junior Olympic Games later in August in Humble, Texas.
Jackson is a two-time AAU Junior Olympic Games champ.
Of note, Jackson also traveled to Eugene recently to compete at The Outdoor Nationals, where she finished fifth in the girls 100m championship in 11.61 seconds.
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