In 1985 a slim eighteen year-old won the Welsh 100m. championship in a
modest 11.01secs. Those present possibly left thinkng very little of the
performance and most probably didn't read that a few weeks later the
same young man had gained a silver medal at the European Junior
Championships, though on that occasion as a hurdler. The more so since
the actual winner of the European race was also British and the European
junior record holder for the event. However, at the 1986 Commonwealth
Games in Edinburgh, the name of Colin Jackson began to gain recognition.
By then he had already won the U.K. & AAA's 110m. hurdles titles
and taken the World Junior 110mh. crown in a European Junior
record-equalling time of 13.44sec. (a record set by Jon Ridgeon, the
junior who had beaten him the previous year). In Edinburgh he took the
silver medal just eight days after his world junior success in 13.42sec.
behind Canadian Mark McCoy's 13.31sec. (see photo above) and
though still a teenager was along with Ridgeon taking British hurdling
to a level of success not seen since the days of David Hemery nearly
twenty years earlier.
A hamstring injury prevented him from competing
at the European Championships and troubled him for much of that winter,
but the next season was World Championship year and Jackson returned to
top form in time. In the 110mh. final he won the bronze medal with a
personal best of 13.38sec. behind Greg Foster who retained his title
with 13.21sec. but trailed behind fellow Briton Ridgeon who took the
silver medal with a U.K. record-breaking time of 13.29sec. Jackson's
time ranked him seventh in the world for 1987. (George Herringshaw) |