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Oregon22 100m title the most treasured of the 5, says Fraser-Pryce

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Loop News

July 18, 2022 8:41 PM ET

3 mins read

EUGENE, Oregon: Iconic Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce says her latest victory means the most.

“It’s my favourite world title — doing it at 35, yes, I said 35,” Fraser-Pryce remarked after leading a Jamaican 100m sweep at the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field on Sunday night.

“So many people believe that when women turn 35, it somehow diminishes our gift, our talent,” Fraser-Pryce further said. “But I’m still able to line up and compete, and that is very special.”

Fraser-Pryce, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic 100m champion, powered home in a championship record 10.67 seconds to break Marion Jones’  23-year-old mark of 10.70.

She was followed by Shericka Jackson, who clocked a new personal best 10.73 and 2016 and 2021 Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who clocked 10.81.

It was the fifth world title in the 100m for Fraser-Pryce, who won her first 13 years ago.

It also represents her second world title since becoming a mom in 2017. She has won seven titles in the 100m between the Olympics and worlds, breaking her tie with Usain Bolt.

Fraser-Pryce adds the Oregon22 world titles to those she won in  2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019. 

The golden moment on Monday night came almost a year after she finished second to Thompson-Herah at the Tokyo Olympics by a big margin — 0.13.

“I went back home and I worked and I worked and I came out here, and I had the success,” the beaming sprinter said.

The 10.67 represents the fastest she’s ever run in a major final and it was just seven-hundredths of a second off her personal best of 10.60, set in Lausanne in August 2021.

And Fraser-Pryce believes that she can run faster.

“Whenever I’m healthy, I’m going to compete,” she said. “I’m hungry, I’m driven and I always believe I can run faster and I’m not going to stop until I stop believing that.”

When asked about the secret to her success, she said, “I am a competitor. I’m always hungry to do more because I believe there is more to be done. It’s not easy, I don’t just turn up. I have to work.”

She further added that “I can’t even imagine the number of times I’ve had setbacks and I’ve bounced back and I’m here again.

“To continue to do it at 35, having a baby, still going — hopefully, I’m inspiring women that they can make their own journey.”

Jamaica also swept the medals at last year’s Olympics. On that occasion, it was Thompson-Herah followed by Fraser-Pryce and Jackson. 

Thompson-Herah, who last year in Eugene ran the second-fastest time in history (10.54), said she missed a lot of training this season due to shoulder and Achilles injuries.

“I’m not in the best shape of my life,” she said.