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Digicel delights their 'Pocket Rocket'

Published:Friday | October 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Supported by husband Jason Pryce, Sprint Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce pauses for a moment for a photo op.
Out to enjoy 'An Evening with Shelly-Ann' was President of the MVP Track Club, Bruce James and his wife Pascal (centre). Welcoming the couple is Digicel Sports Sponsorship Manager Paula Pinnock-MacLeod. - Contributed photos
Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, welcomes MVP track club member Melaine Walker to 'An Evening with Shelly-Ann' held last Friday.
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By her own lofty standards, 2011 may not have been the best of years but the smile hasn't moved from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The affectionately named 'Pocket Rocket' took a silver medal in the 4x100 metre relay at the World Championships, but couldn't defend her title in the individual 100-metre event. Showing they were not fair-weather friends, one of her sponsors, Digicel, hosted, a dinner for the speedster on Friday, October 21, at Devon House.

Digicel Jamaica CEO Mark Linehan assured Fraser-Pryce that they celebrate her wins and feel for her when she doesn't do as well. He promised they will be rooting for her all the way at the London Olympics. He quipped that with better, Jamaican food, (unlike the questionable stuff in Daegu) he knew "we will beat the US!"

MVP Track Club boss Bruce James recalled when he first met the short speedster in high school and joked that she was always asking him to get her 'new hair' but doesn't bother him for trivialities. Fun aside, he lauded how she always gave so much of herself to everyone, including the fans. He was also very proud of her "new and true dedication to her religion" and gave her the thumbs up for not letting the fame get to her head.

Fraser-Pryce, beaming as usual, thanked the telecoms giant for not only supporting her when she's winning gold, citing how they "look out for you as a person." Now a Christian, she had special thanks for her friends for their support on her new journey. "Being a Christian doesn't mean I'm perfect, it just means I'm trying." But the biggest 'big up' was for her husband Jason.

"This man right here is the tower of strength behind me," she said. Speeches done, it was then time for some dancing which went on until early Saturday morning.