Born in St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies Federation, Jackson reached the 100m and 200m finals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, finishing fifth in both. A year later, she won the 200m title at the 1985 Universiade and finished second in the 100m and 200m at the 1985 IAAF World Cup. She won a bronze medal in the 200m at the 1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships behind Heike Drechsler and Merlene Ottey.