Fan vote tabs Shawnti Jackson 2023 International U20 AOY
FAYETTEVILLE – British magazine Athletics Weekly announced Razorback freshman Shawnti Jackson has been selected as the International U20 Female Athlete of the Year through thousands voting in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards.
Arkansas triple jumper Jaydon Hibbert finished third in voting for the men’s International U20 Athlete of the Year behind American sprinter Erriyon Knighton and Netherlands distance runner Niels Laros.
Finishing behind Jackson for the International U20 female honor were American pole vaulter Hana Moll and Latvian distance runner Agate Caune.
Previously, Jackson earned USATF’s Youth Award Athlete of the Year honor and finished as runner-up to Moll in Track & Field News Girls High School Athlete of the Year.
Accolades for Jackson in 2023 included numerous national high school sprint records, which was topped by a 10.89 in the 100m facing a field of professional sprinters. Jackson collected a pair of gold medals at the U20 Pan American Championships, winning the 200m in a career best 22.35 and anchoring the United States 4 x 100m relay to a 42.88 American U20 record.
On the 2023 world list, Jackson ranks equal No. 11 in the 100m and No. 21 in the 200m. Among Americans, Jackson ranks equal No. 4 and No. 12, respectively.
The 18-year-old Jackson ranks No. 1 in both the 100m and 200m on the 2023 U20 world list.
Bowerman finalist Hibbert, a double NCAA triple jump champion in 2023, is the world leader for 2023 with a mark of 58-7.5 (17.87) that bettered collegiate and world U20 records following an indoor performance of 57-6.5 (17.54) that broke indoor collegiate, world U20, and Jamaican records.