STOCKHOLM, Sporting Alert – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce once again proved that she will be the woman to beat over the 100m at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, next month after delivering another top class performance at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Thursday.
The Jamaican sprint double champion from Moscow 2013, blew away a quality field to win the women’s 100m in 10.93 seconds – running into a slight headwind.
Fraser-Pryce got away to a confident start, but it was in the middle of the race where the Olympic champion separated herself from the field, which shows that the world leader is on the right track to defend her world title at the Birds Nest.
It was the fourth time she was going under the 11-seconds barrier, and she leads the world with a sizzling 10.77 seconds.
“I’m satisfied with the race, the time wasn’t what I wanted, but I’m grateful I came out here and did my best, thank God,” the star sprinter said.
Earlier this month Fraser-Pryce said she would be running just the 100m in Beijing, but it is now understood her coach Steven Francis has not completely ruled her out of defending her sprint double.
She, in the meantime, revealed: “In Beijing, I’m not running the 200m.
“I’m telling my coach he has to change my mind. The 200m is too far so I’m set for the 100m.”
Finishing second to Fraser-Pryce in Stockholm was American Tori Bowie, who clocked 11.05, while Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison was third in 11.22.
The American said: “I’ll take the performance today. 11.05 is ok.
“I’m looking forward to the IAAF World Championships, there will be some great athletes there, it feels good to be among the best.”
The men’s 400m also saw another Caribbean sprinter showing his speed over the last 40m, as Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Cedenio finished very fast to clock 44.97 to win the event.
“The race felt good,” said Cedenio. “It was a little bit slow but I’m so happy with the win and I thank God for it.”
Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic who recently defeated Cedenio at the Pan Am Games, was second on Thursday in 45.21, while Britain’s Martyn Rooney ran a season’s best of 45.41 for third place.
