'It just wasn't my time'

• Fraser-Pryce expresses gratitude despite poor season

DAEGU, South Korea:

After failing to defend her World 100m title, Jamaican sprinting dynamo, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, remains thankful and has already conditioned her mind to getting over the Daegu disappointment.

Fraser-Pryce, who had followed up her 2008 Beijing Olympic Games success with victory in Berlin a year later at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, could only manage a fourth-place finish here in Daegu, South Korea, losing out to Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste at the line with a 10.99 clocking.

The event was taken by American Carmelita Jeter in 10.90, with fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown, 10.97 taking the silver, while Baptiste's 10.98 was good enough for the bronze - all in a negative wind of -1.4 mps.

still smiling

However, the bubbly Fraser-Pryce was, as usual, sporting a big smile as she made her way from the track shortly after the race, expressing gratitude for her opportunities to represent her country and stating her pride in her efforts, given the problems she has faced this season.

"Yes, I am disappointed not to get a medal, yes, but I give God thanks nonetheless because I came here and I made the finals. A lot of persons cannot say that and they had an OK season, while I had a poor season, so I am grateful," said Fraser-Pryce.

"Things happen, it just wasn'tmy time and I accept that and look forward to the rest of the season," she added. "I'm just looking forward to getting ready for next season, and I'll be putting my all out there as usual, and hoping that everything will work out well.

"Things happen and I just give God thanks that I was able to come out of it healthy and I look forward to the next race," Fraser-Pryce added. "It's not the end, I have won two championships and it's just another setback that will only encourage me to go home and work harder," Fraser-Pryce underlined.

The MVP Track Club-based athlete is expected to feature next for Jamaica in the 4x100m relays.

Fraser-Pryce, who has looked a shadow of herself all season while competing with a string of injuries, took the time to thank her support cast and made it clear that despite the result and the doubts, she has never, and will never, underestimate or question her abilities.

"I am grateful in spite of everything. I won two championships, a lot of persons have doubted me and doubted my abilities, but I have never doubted myself and I must say that I have to tell my friends and family, husband, mother, father and everyone back home and all over that supported me, I want to tell them thanks for their support," said Fraser-Pryce, who will be starting her final year of studies at the University of Technology shortly.