Shelly crowns 100m return with meet record
Published:Friday | July 21, 2023 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
In her first 100 metres race in 10 months, five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce produced a strong performance as she continues her preparation for her title defence in Budapest, Hungary in less than a month’s time.
Fraser-Pryce finally opened her 100m slate at the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet in Luzern, Switzerland yesterday, clocking a meet record 10.82 seconds. Zoe Hobbs of New Zealand was second in 11.08, and Kennedy Blackmon of the United States was third in 11.11. Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison was fifth in 11.18 while Briana Williams placed eighth in 11.35.
Fraser-Pryce’s 100m opener was earlier than expected, as she was slated to start the 100m in Madrid tomorrow. She is still down to compete in that meet. Fraser-Pryce’s time is the fourth fastest in the world this year. Only Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Sha’Carri Richardson and her compatriot Shericka Jackson have run faster this year. In the B race, Serena Cole was fifth in her second race on the European circuit, clocking 11.31, while Jonelle Smith was sixth in 11.39. In the men’s 100m, Elite Performance’s Julian Forte produced his first sub-10 clocking of the season, winning in 9.99 with national champion Rohan Watson finishing second with 10.03. Michael Campbell was fifth in 10.21.
In the men’s 400m, Rusheen McDonald had another strong outing, clocking 44.80 seconds for victory with Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi second in 45.15 and Manuel Sanders of Germany third, in 45.28.
Tyler Mason led a Jamaican one-two finish in the men’s 110m hurdles, clocking 13.19 seconds for victory with Orlando Bennett behind him in 13.22.
It was the same for the women’s 100m hurdles as Amoi Brown took victory in 12.64 seconds while former world champion Danielle Williams was second in 12.68. National champion Janieve Russell clocked 53.65 for victory in the women’s 400m hurdles, defeating former world and Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, who was second in 54.01. Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight was third in 54.13.
In the field, former long jump champion Tajay Gayle was third in the men’s long jump, registering a mark of 7.89m. The event was won by Jarrion Lawson of the United States with 8.00m, with his compatriot William Williams second with 7.92m.