THE FINISH! Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (centre) at the end of the 100m getting the job done over (left) silver medallist Dafne Schipper and Veronica Campbell Brown who finished fourth.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce known to fans worldwide as the ‘Pocket Rocket’ exploded again in Beijing at the Bird’s Nest stadium to score an impressive 10.76 seconds to successfully defend her World Championship 100m crown. In doing so she became the first woman to capture three 100m titles, thereby cementing her place as one of, if not the greatest female sprinters of all time.
“I didn’t know that I was the first woman to win three World Championship titles, but hey, that’s good,” said Fraser-Pryce while bursting out into laughter.
Fraser-Pryce, 28, who also won gold in 2009 and 2013, got her usual bullet start and led from gun to tape, holding off the flying Dutchwoman, Dafne Schipper (10.81 seconds) and American Tori Bowie back in third spot with 10.86 seconds.
Veteran Veronica Campbell-Brown was just outside the medals finishing fourth in 10.91 with debutant Natasha Morrison ended in seventh position with a time of 11.02 seconds.
It was Jamaica’s second gold medal of the Championships and its third medal overall. Jamaica are now second in the medal table with two gold and a bronze. Kenya with six medals inclusive of two gold, two silver and two bronze are on top. Great Britain are third with two gold medals.
Fraser-Pryce with her sixth gold moved into fifth position on the all-time list with eight medals overall and trail country woman Merlene Ottey (14), American Allyson Felix (10), Jearl Miles (USA) and Campbell-Brown on nine each.
Sporting green braids with a garland of yellow sunflowers at the front, Fraser-Pryce won easier than the winning margin would suggest having enough time to raise her hand in triumph just metres before crossing the winning line.
The double Olympic champion revealed she was happy for the win but disappointed she did not break her own national record of 10.70 seconds.
“I am really excited, I came here and got the win but I believe there was more in terms of time that I wanted but it wasn’t to be. I have a next race (Diamond League) and I am looking forward to getting it there. I know it’s there. It will come but I have to be patient,” said Fraser-Pryce.
Fraser-Pryce said she knew she won the race from the start and there were never any doubts.
“I think my start was good. A lot of persons talk about me getting the start but I have come from behind before. But I like to be in front from the beginning, so I work on that and use it to my advantage,” she said.
“Last year was not a very good year for me but I was able to continue to work hard and trust the process and journey. It is easy to have down time but it’s what we do with the downtime and for me I was hungrier for this one,” she pointed out.
“Sometimes things are a blessing in disguise for us and I just wanted to come out here, where it all started in 2008. I was only 21 and now I am 28 with a lot more experience,” said a laughing Fraser-Pryce.
“When I came here nobody knew who I was, I didn’t even know who I was at that time. I was just here enjoying the moment and I won,” she added.
‘Walking garden’ Fraser-Pryce reaps golden treble
BEIJING, China (AFP) – Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce roared to an unprecedented third women’s 100 metres world title in a flash of green braids to emulate countryman Usain Bolt yesterday.
The double Olympic champion, wearing a band of yellow flowers in her green-dyed hair, clocked 10.76 seconds to win easily in Beijing, a day after Bolt blazed to glory in the men’s 100m.
“I like it when I’m chirpy and happy so I decided to do my hair green,” said Fraser-Pryce, waving her matching green and yellow fingernails. “I got my sunflowers too, I was like a living, walking garden.
“I didn’t know I was the first woman to have won three world titles but, hey, that’s awesome!” she added. “There was too much emotion, coming back to where it all started in 2008. I was just 21 and nobody knew who I was — I didn’t know who I was at that time.”
Fraser-Pryce got off to an explosive start and was never threatened, winning with plenty to spare from Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, who took silver in a time of 10.81 seconds with American Tori Bowie third in 10.86.
The American threat failed to materialise as Fraser-Pryce underlined her return to top form following what was, by her impeccable standards, a sub-par 2014 season.
Her task was eased when countrywoman Sherone Simpson, silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, missed the final along with Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure, second in the 100 and 200m in Moscow two years ago.
Schippers, who took heptathlon bronze at the Moscow worlds, was left beaming with her silver medal after lowering the Dutch national record twice in one night.
“It’s so cool to win a silver medal,” Schippers told AFP. “When I got to the last 30 metres I was close to Shelly-Ann, and when you’re close to her you know you have a medal and a good time.”
But bronze medallist Bowie, who prefers the 200m, was left disappointed after suffering a nasty cut to her finger setting her blocks for the final.
“I sliced my finger and there was blood dripping everywhere,” she grimaced. “It was a disaster, the track was full of blood.
“My mind was everywhere, I felt rushed and didn’t execute well. But I know what to expect for the Olympics next year. It was a big stepping stone for me.”