Fri | Apr 19, 2024

Cobwebs off for Shelly

Published:Sunday | February 9, 2020 | 12:00 AMHubert Lawrence - Sunday Gleaner Writer
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Kenyon Hemans
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (right), 2019 World 100m champion, wins the women’s 60 metres at yesterday’s Milo Western Relays held at G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town. Fraser-Pryce clocked 7.31 seconds. Natasha Morrison (left) was second in 7.44.
Kenyon Hemans
Asafa Powell powering to victory in the men’s 60 metres during yesterday’s Milo Western Relays at G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town. Powell clocked 6.72 seconds.
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, history’s finest 100-metre runner, opened her campaign for a third Olympic title with a win over 60 metres at the Milo Western Relays yesterday. In the first race of the meet, Fraser-Pryce stepped to victory in 7.31 seconds.

Clear of runner-up Natasha Morrison whose time was 7.44 seconds, Fraser-Pryce, the RJRGLEANER National Sportswoman of the Year 2019, said the race was a break from training.

“It’s the first race so you can’t really take anything from it,” she began. “It’s the first one, so just come out here, execute and just try to take the cobwebs off, execute and just see where you are and you look forward to the next one, she said after her usual quick start took her away from Morrison, her teammate on the winning 2015 World Championships 4x100m team.

Asked about the 9:40 a.m. start time for her race, she wasn’t troubled.

“Normally on a Saturday, I’d be doing a lot of training so it’s good to be able to take a break and to come down to the 60m and get it done. So for me, it’s not difficult, you know, as an athlete, you have to prepare for all situations,” she explained.

Training is going well for the Stephen Francis-coached MVP Track Club star.

FEELING GOOD

“I’m feeling good actually, I feel really good, strong and looking forward to the rest of the season,” said the four-time World 100-metre champion.

The men’s 60m went to her club-mate, Asafa Powell, who edged Andrew Fisher of Bahrain with both timed in 6.73 seconds.

“It was a good race, kind of early in the morning to be running the 60m, but I’m just running myself back into my old self and I felt good today”, said the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic 100-metre finalist.

Powell had to rally for the win.

“Andrew Fisher is a good starter and I think I did pretty well and I wasn’t expecting anything great because it’s so early in the season, and the wind, you know, but I’m feeling pretty good,” he said afterwards.

Tajay Gayle, the World long jump champion, was fifth in Powell’s race in 6.87 seconds.

Powell, the 2007 and 2009 World Championships 100m bronze medal winner, feels that he is on his way back to good form.

“I think I’m definitely right there, because based on how training is going this year, I’ve managed to stay healthy so far and I’m going to stay healthy,” he commented.

Asked about the upcoming Olympics, Powell was optimistic.

“Definitely, based on how our male athletes are performing, you know, for maybe the last two years, I definitely want to step up and bring back glory to Jamaica,” he posited.