Shelly-Ann wears the target

Defending world 100 meters champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has proven that she is in top form to retain her title when the World Athletics Championships get underway at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon from July 15-24.

Fraser-Pryce first rose to prominence at 21 years old when she won gold in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As the youngest in the field, she claimed victory ahead of her compatriots Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, Lauryn Williams of the USA and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas, to name a few. Fraser-Pryce became the first Caribbean female sprinter to win gold in the event at the Olympic Games. Since then, the eight-time Olympic medalist has stamped her claim as a dominant force in women’s sprinting, having won more 100 meters gold medals than any other female sprinter in the history of athletics.

READ MORE ABOUT SHELLY-ANN

Despite all the accomplishments Fraser-Pryce has amassed during her career, she has also faced many setbacks in the sport. During the 2015/2016 track and field season, the 2012 Olympic champion suffered from a toe injury that caused her to withdraw from several meets such as the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rome. She was later sidelined from the track after undergoing toe surgery along with giving birth to her son Zyon Pryce in 2017. Two years later, Fraser-Pryce stormed to victory in the women’s 100 meters at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar, becoming, at the age of 32, the oldest female sprinter to win a global title in the event.

FRASER-PRYCE IN PARIS

The four-time world champion, who has a lifetime best of 10.60 seconds, and is the third-fastest woman of all time, has proven that she is in tip-top shape to retain her title when she stormed to a world-leading time and new meet record of 10.67 at the Paris Diamond League on Saturday, June 18. Previously, she ran the world-best time in Nairobi, Kenya at the Kip Keino Classic in May. Fraser-Pryce’s aspirations for her career have been limitless, as she has her sights set on potentially breaking Florence Griffith Joyner’s world record of 10.49, which was set in 1988 in Indianapolis, USA.

“After having that season last year, it has definitely opened a new door for me in terms of the dreams and the goals that I am chasing for this season,” said Shelly-Ann.  “I am looking forward to running 10.5 and possibly 10.4, so that’s the aim and I think I am on my way to doing that; I just have to continue to trust that God will give me the strength, trust the coach and just continue to put in the work.”

Fraser-Pryce will be expected to contest the women’s 200 meters at the upcoming JAAA National Senior Championships, having already qualified for the 100 meters as defending champion. The trials are expected to take place from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26 at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Other Jamaican athletes in the women’s 100 meters:

Elaine Thompson-Herah: She powered to a personal best of 10.54 seconds at the Wanda  Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon in August last year. She has clocked a  season’s best of 10.79, however, which makes her the second-fastest woman this year behind her compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce.

Shericka Jackson: This former 400-meter specialist clocked a season’s best of 10.92 when she finished third behind her fellow countrywoman Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.79) and American Sha’Carri Richardson (10.92) at the Prefontaine Classic at Eugene, Oregon in May.

Kevona Davis: The former Edwin Allen High standout recorded a personal best of 10.95 seconds at the Big12 championships in Lubbock, Texas and became the third Jamaican woman to clock under 11 seconds behind Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Kemba Nelson: The collegiate record holder at 60 meters, Nelson dipped below 11 seconds to finish second in the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships 100 meters in a time of 10.97 in June.

Briana Williams: Already an Olympic 4×100 meters gold medalist, Williams equalled her lifetime best of 10.97 seconds when she won the women’s 100 meters at the JAAA/SDF Jubilee Series 2.3 at the Ashenhiem Stadium in Kingston in June.

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