Fraser-pryce clocks fastest in 10.67 secs to win 100m

NAIROBI: Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-ann Fraser-pryce posted the fastest 100m in the world this year as she clocked 10.67secs to win her season opener in Nairobi on Saturday.

The 35-year-old, who has won eight Olympic medals including silver in Tokyo last summer, was a comfortable winner ater 18-year-old Namibian sprint sensation Christine Mboma, pulled up suddenly before collapsing to the track.

Fraser-pryce’s winning time was close to her personal best of 10.60, set in Lausanne in August 2021.

Only four other women have run the distance faster than Fraser-pryce’s time on Saturday Americans Marion Jones (10.65) and Carmelita Jeter (10.64), fellow Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-herah (10.54), and the controversial world record holder American Florence Griffithjoyner (10.49).

Instead, Kerley lost to home runner Ferdinand Omanyala, who powered to victory in 9.85secs, also a world-leading time.

American Kerley could only manage 9.92secs to finish behind African record holder Omanyala, who clocked his personal best of 9.77secs last year.

Earlier, Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs withdrew at the last minute on Saturday from his long-awaited return to the track in Nairobi because of intestinal problems.

The Italian, who was a surprise winner at last year’s Olympics, was due to go head to head with silver medallist Fred Kerley for the first time since Tokyo.

“The Olympic champion made the decision this morning with his staff, due to intestinal problems which occurred yesterday (Friday) in Kenya,” wrote the Italian federation on its website a few hours before the start of the Continental Tour meeting.

“Marcell will not report to the starting-blocks today because he remains under observation in the emergency room of Uhai Neema Hospital, under the control of the Italian NGO World Friends,” said his coach Paolo Camossi, quoted by the federation.

Six weeks ago, Jacobs stormed to victory to take the world indoor 60m gold in Belgrade, chasing down the American world 100m champion Christian Coleman in the final.