Multiple World and Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce says that she is more focused on executing her race and not about the absence of American sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson from the 100m clash at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya, today.
Fraser-Pryce will face World Under-20 200m champion and Olympic silver medallist Christine Mboma of Namibia in her first 100m race of the season at 8:04 a.m. Jamaica time.
Richardson was confirmed on April 13 to compete in the event, setting up a showdown with Fraser-Pryce, her first since the Prefontaine Classic last August. However, Richardson’s name is not on the start list for today’s event.
After opening her 2022 season finishing second in the 200m in Kingston last month, Fraser-Pryce will compete in Kenya for the first time and in a pre-race press conference yesterday, she revealed that her focus is not on who is not competing in the race.
“As far as I am concerned, there are seven other competitors in the race that I think deserve the same amount of attention and respect as me. Because when we each line up to compete, I don’t think we are fearful of who is beside us or who is in the next lane. We are just here to compete and to give our best,” Fraser-Pryce said. “So in terms of … if somebody else is missing from the competition, it doesn’t stop me from focusing on what I’m here to do and getting the job done.”
Fraser-Pryce’s season debut saw her clock 22.79 seconds in the 200m at the Velocity Fest meet on April 23, where she had the lead but slowed down in the final metres to finish second. In Richardson’s absence, Fraser-Pryce will go head-to-head with Mboma who currently has the eighth-fastest time in the world this year, clocking 10.97 seconds last month in Botswana. She had clocked 21.81 seconds in placing second to Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson Herah (personal-best 21.53) at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Fraser-Pryce said that she is looking forward to the Kenyan experience and trusting her preparation to get the perfect start to her 100m campaign.
“To be able to race here is wonderful but for me every time that I grace the track, I am looking forward to doing my best,” Fraser-Pryce said.
The men’s 100m will feature a clash between Tokyo Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy and silver medallist Fred Kerley of the United States.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Kimberly Williamson will also be in action in the women’s high jump event starting at 7:45 a.m. Williamson currently has a season’s best height of 1.85m which she achieved on April 30 at the Drake Relays.
daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com