With an eye fixed a sprint-double campaign at what would be her final Olympic Games set for Tokyo next year, two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was encouraged by her performance at the Velocity Fest 4 and 5 meets held at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
On Saturday, the 33-year-old track legend, won her 100m heat in a world-leading 10.87s, just 0.01 faster than Elaine Thompson-Herah, who ran in another heat. Then on Sunday, eight-years and a day since she won an Olympic 200m silver medal in London, the four-time World 100m champion, won her 200-metre heat in 22.57.
On Sunday, it was the fifth-fastest time in the world and second fastest on the day behind Thompson-Herah’s 22.19.
However, 20-year-old American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson ran a personal best 22.00 at the Star Athletics Sprint Showcase in Monteverde, bumping Thompson-Herah down to third and Fraser-Pryce to sixth.
Nonetheless, Fraser-Pryce said the weekend performances was a good benchmark heading into what could be her penultimate season when she also plans to run a lot more half-lap sprints.
“Considering how the season is going I am pleased with the effort over the weekend,” she told Sportsmax.TV on Monday. “(It) definitely has given me something to hold onto this season and heading in the next season. More 200s for sure.”
Fraser-Pryce has a 200m gold medal from the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. At the 2012 London Olympics, she ran personal best 22.09s.