Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce once again defied all expectations by clocking the fastest time run over 100m by a woman in 33 years, and, in the process, inched closer to one of the most enduring records in all of sports, Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 10.49.
With the Olympic Games fast approaching on the horizon, but still plenty of time left to go even faster, Fraser-Pryce, the most dominant force in women’s sprinting for over a decade, must certainly have her eyes set on the only prize that has eluded her thus far.
But, even Fraser-Pryce’s sparkling new personal best time of 10.63, which sets her up as a prohibitive favourite for a third 100m title at this summer’s Olympic Games, is still 0.14th of a second off the long-standing, iron-clad mark set by the American in 1988.
For many who watched Fraser-Pryce's race, however, as impressive as it was, the time seems to have been set with the athlete having something in reserve. Knowing Fraser-Pryce, the question of how much faster can she go is one that will only be answered when the lights are brightest on the Tokyo Games world stage. She has freely admitted that, despite the fast time, she had only been focused on executing the race properly and the thought of running 10.6 had not crossed her mind.
Since it was set at the USA trial in 1988, Flo-Jo’s record has continued to court controversy. While some have pointed to unsubstantiated claims of drug use, some scholars have argued that the wind reading for the event could not have been correct. The athlete’s time of 10.49 was recorded with a wind reading of 0.0, despite, according to reports and footage analysis, there being clear evidence of wind at the venue. Despite that, it, however, remains on World Athletics books as the target to beat.
With all the controversy surrounding the record and how much the unbeatable mark has weighed down women’s sprinting, Fraser-Pryce managing to break the time would arguably be a bigger achievement than the 100m time set by Bolt. Prior to Bolt breaking the record the first time in 2008 (9.72), the previous holder was Asafa Powell who ran 9.74 and that was in 2007 and before that Powell again in 2005. Female sprinters have craned their necks to look up at Flo-Jo’s mark for 33 years.
In an illustrious career, Fraser-Pryce has made it a habit of rewriting the rules in terms of what’s possible. At 34-years-old she has not only said but proven that age is just a number and repeatedly silenced doubters with her work ethic, patience, and determination.
When she struck gold in the women’s 100m, at the Doha World Championships, she became the oldest female sprinter to win a global 100m title, amazingly, two years later she is running even faster than that.
Positive vibes: Sunshine Girls shooter Amanda Pinkney remains upbeat despite tough going in Fast5 tourney
Amanda Pinkney’s pride in representing Jamaica is always clear, but for the goal-attack and her Sunshine Girls teammates, this Fast5 Netball World Series is especially meaningful.
For one, it is the first time many of the players are representing the island on the world stage, and while their chances of making the podium have evaporated after three opening defeats, Pinkney, who was a member of the team that placed fifth at last year’s tournament, believes they have enough quality to end on a high.
Pinkney’s team, which lost 19-39, 15-35, and 25-33 to New Zealand, England, and South Africa in that order on Friday’s opening day, will have Australia and Uganda to contend with in two more fast-paced encounters on Saturday that will demand every ounce of strength and strategy the team has cultivated.
“There’s nothing like the energy of representing Jamaica on a big stage, especially after the long international break. We’ve all worked hard individually to get here, and you can feel the chemistry building. So even though the results didn’t go our way on the first day, we gave it our best,” Pinkney told SportsMax.Tv from the team’s base in Christchurch, New Zealand.
“I always say that my biggest accomplishment is being able to represent Jamaica on the world stage because, in doing so, I can contribute to our team’s successes, like medaling at major tournaments. That is something I hold close to my heart, and I was hoping we could have medalled here; but again, things haven’t gone our way so far, and we will have to give it our all to overcome the challenge in the next two games,” she added.
Although the odds may seem daunting, the young and fairly inexperienced Jamaican side—fielding seven debutants—has shown flashes of their resilience and skill, particularly in their last contest against South Africa, a performance they will aim to build on in the last two games.
Australia are so far unbeaten, while England, South Africa, and New Zealand have won two matches each. Jamaica and Uganda are winless.
“Fast5 challenges us to be sharp, quick, and strategic, and going up against top teams really motivates us to give our best. We’re all driven to not only compete but to showcase our unique Sunshine Girls style,” Pinkney said.
“So now it’s just about executing better than we did in the first three games. That performance against South Africa is a good marker for us to work from, and so if we stay focused and play to our potential, I believe we have a great chance to at least finish with two wins,” she noted.
That said, the 24-year-old, who has tallied 28 goals in the tournament so far, has her sights set on a broader legacy in her career that she said has been shaped by both triumphs and trials.
However, these experiences, for Pinkney, have not only developed her skills but also instilled in her a deep resilience.
“Experiences, whether good or bad, have made me stronger because I view every situation as an opportunity to learn and grow, so I’m still in a good space mentally, and I know my teammates are too,” the bubbly player, who was a part of the historic CAC Games gold medal win last year, shared.
“I want to continue growing as a player and contributing to Jamaica’s success of being identified as a dominant force in netball and also, hopefully, to inspire the next generation of players. So I will take the lessons from this Fast5 tournament and keep pushing myself, improve my game, and aim to make my family and country proud in every tournament we play,” Pinkney ended.
Jamaica's Sunshine Girls struggle on opening day at Fast5 Netball World Series
Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls faced a tough opening day at the Fast5 Netball World Series on Friday, as they lost all three of their opening encounters, but will be hoping for better fortunes on Saturday’s final day in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The young, relatively inexperienced Jamaican squad—fielding seven debutants—was visibly affected by the high-stakes atmosphere, showing early jitters and struggling to find their usual rhythm. Their opponents—New Zealand, England, and South Africa—capitalized on the team's early nerves and shaky play to clinch solid 39-19, 35-15, and 33-25 wins.
In their first game against the host nation, New Zealand, Jamaica faltered under the pressure and succumbed to a 20-goal blowout. The Sunshine Girls’ normally steady ball movement and confident shooting were absent as they grappled to find cohesion on the court before Amanda Pinkney eventually scored 13 goals and Simone Gordon, six.
New Zealand, buoyed by their home crowd, put Jamaica on the defensive from start to finish, with Martina Salmon scoring 17 goals, while Maia Wilson and Saviour Tui had 11 goals each.
Jamaica’s next matchup, against England, unfolded similarly as the shooting struggles persisted, and unforced errors cost them valuable scoring opportunities and inevitably resulted in another 20-goal defeat. Pinkney again led the way for the Jamaicans with nine goals, while Shadine Bartley had the other six.
England’s disciplined defence and polished offensive execution widened the gap, as Harriet Jones hit a solid 13 goals from as many attempts, with support from Sophie Egbaran (8 goals), Paige Reed (8 goals), and Sophie Kelly (6 goals).
However, the Jamaicans returned for their final game against South Africa determined and refocused, and it was evident in what was their best showing of the day.
The Sunshine Girls appeared more positive and organized across the court, as they found moments of fluidity in their movement and delivered some confident shots, giving fans a glimpse of the team's potential.
Despite ultimately falling short by eight goals, they had much to smile about as this time it was Bartley that led from the front with 12 goals, supported by Kestina Sturridge (7 goals) and Pinkney (six goals).
South Africa used their experience to good effect, as Zandre Smith scored 18 goals and Kamogelo Maseko had a perfect seven goals from seven attempts. Rolene Streukter, also scored seven goals, with Lefebre Rademan getting the other goal.
With the first day out the way, the Jamaicans will be hoping for better fortunes on the second day as they face reigning champions Australia, who are so far unbeaten in the tournament, and Uganda. However, fatigue could set in as playing fast-paced games involving four six-minute quarters against five of the world’s best teams is by no means easy.
Those games are scheduled for 6:00pm and 10:30pm Jamaica time.
NB: Fast5 action can be seen live on SportsMax and the SportsMax app.
Sunshine Girls face setback with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard’s withdrawal from Horizon Series against England
Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls have suffered a significant blow ahead of their upcoming Horizon Series against England’s Roses with the withdrawal of star goal shooter and team captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. Netball Jamaica announced today that Fowler-Nembhard, who has been a crucial presence in the goal circle, will be unable to participate in the series due to medical advice, affecting both the Manchester games on November 16 and 17 and the Jamaican leg on November 25 and 26.
Fowler-Nembhard, who has been training with the team for the past month, was anticipated to play a vital role not only in scoring but also in mentoring the new players who recently joined the senior squad. However, Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson emphasized the importance of prioritizing Fowler-Nembhard’s health. “Netball Jamaica is focused on her health and well-being and will provide updates as necessary regarding her condition. Romelda Aiken-George will instead join the team in England for the series,” Robinson said.
Sunshine Girls’ head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry expressed disappointment over the unexpected loss of Fowler-Nembhard but reinforced the team’s commitment to supporting her recovery. “Jhaniele is the captain and a very important player for Jamaica, and so we are quite disappointed that she will not be able to participate in the Horizon Series. However, our priority at this time is her health, and we are committed to supporting our players every step of the way. Additionally, we remain confident in the strength of our squad as we move forward with the series,” said Henry.
As the Sunshine Girls prepare to depart for England, Netball Jamaica extended their gratitude to fans for their understanding and continued support, assuring them that the team is ready for what promises to be a highly competitive series despite this setback.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
