Veteran sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continued to demonstrate her resilience and elite caliber on Friday, qualifying for her ninth World Championships following a third-place finish in the women’s 100m at the Jamaican national athletics trials. Meanwhile, rising sprint star Kishane Thompson delivered one of the fastest performances in history to dominate the men’s 100m final in Kingston.
Women’s 100m Recap
Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic champion and 10-time world champion, clocked a time of 10.91 seconds to secure third place and a coveted spot on the Jamaican team heading to Tokyo for the World Championships in September. The race was won by Tina Clayton, who captured her first senior national title in a personal-best time of 10.81 seconds. Reigning 200m world champion Shericka Jackson followed closely in 10.88 seconds.
Tia Clayton, Tina's twin sister and the fastest qualifier from the semifinals, was unable to finish the final after appearing to suffer an injury mid-race. The competition unfolded before a vibrant crowd, including Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, adding to the electrifying atmosphere at the National Stadium.
Fraser-Pryce Reflects on Her Journey
Now 37, Fraser-Pryce’s remarkable career began with a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. Since then, she has amassed five individual world titles in the 100m alone. After securing yet another place on Jamaica's global team, she reflected on her enduring journey:
“It’s been a long journey,” she shared after the race. “But it was not just about making the team—it was about celebrating the journey. I’m grateful to those who have supported me. Strength and resilience brought me here, and I hope my story inspires every girl with a dream.”
Men’s 100m Headlines
In the men’s 100m final, 23-year-old Kishane Thompson stunned the crowd with a blistering run of 9.75 seconds, aided by a legal wind of 0.8 m/s. His time not only secured victory but also catapulted him into the record books as the sixth-fastest man in history. Only sprinting legends like Usain Bolt (9.58), Tyson Gay (9.69), Yohan Blake (9.69), Asafa Powell (9.72), and Justin Gatlin (9.74) have gone faster.
Thompson, who narrowly missed gold at the Paris Olympics by 0.005 seconds, improved on his previous personal best of 9.77 set just a month earlier. Oblique Seville, battling a tight hamstring, finished second in 9.83, while Ackeem Blake rounded out the top three with a personal best of 9.88.
ADD A COMMENT :