Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce aiming to end career in ‘magnificent way’ at Tokyo world c’ships
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Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins the women's 100m final ahead of second-placed Sha'Carri Richardson and fourth-placed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BRUSSELS – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was in buoyant form despite finishing fourth in the 100m at the Brussels Diamond League, saying she was focused on ending her illustrious career in a “magnificent way” at the Tokyo world championships.
The 38-year-old Jamaican sprint legend clocked 11.17 seconds in Brussels on Aug 22, just edged off a podium featuring Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sha’Carri Richardson – the world champion – and Briton Daryll Neita.
While Fraser-Pryce – the third-fastest woman of all time in the 100m with 10.60 – has struggled this season to hit the speeds she once did, she was in bullish mood when looking ahead to the Sept 13-21 world meet.
She will hang up her spikes after Tokyo, having spent an incredible 17 years as a dominant force in women’s sprinting.
“I’ve made a World Championships team, so I’m looking forward to the World Championships, that’s the goal,” said the sprinter, who has won three Olympic gold medals and 10 world titles, with a total of 25 Olympic and world medals.
Her success, she said, was “just confidence in my ability, in working hard and just trusting that I know what is good for me and where I’m at and knowing when it’s time to walk away and it wasn’t time”.
“I’m looking forward to just finishing the chapter and ending this career in a magnificent way. And I’m sure it’ll work out in Tokyo.”
The Tokyo worlds are only three weeks away and she said there was not enough time for a major overhaul.
“There’s not much you can really do more than just fine-tuning the things that you’ve been doing and continue to work on those things, and trust that everything will fall into place,” she said.
“I haven’t been racing a lot. The start is something that I’m working on. So hopefully I’ll be able to get it together.
“I’m experienced enough to know that I have to focus on my own lane with my own race.”
Fraser-Pryce added that, on paper, Jefferson-Wooden “would definitely be the favourite to win” in Tokyo.
“But you have to run the race. That’s just how it is,” she said.
The American, however, was not the Jamaican’s main concern.
“My focus is to run my race and to focus on what my goals are, and hopefully all these races that I’ve been able to do will help me to put the race together,” she reiterated.
“I already know who I am. I know who I am, know what I’m about.” AFP
