Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the second-fastest woman of all time on Saturday. She covered a distance of 100 meters in just 10.63 seconds at a meet in Kingston and is now only behind world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner. America’s Griffith-Joyner set the record in Indianapolis in 1988 at 10.49 seconds but died a decade later.
Double Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce said she is amazed by her feat. “Honestly no, I never expected I would run 10.6 and think it’s a good thing because there was no pressure,” said Fraser-Pryce.
“I’m lost for words because 10.6 has been a dream, a goal, I’ve been working so hard, being so patient to see it finally unfold. I’m so ecstatic.
“If I’m able to run 10.6 now … I’m just looking forward to what the process will bring. I’m continuing the work because I did say that this year I wanted nothing more than to break the 10.7 barrier and I did it.”
34-year-old Fraser-Pryce won by a huge margin on Saturday, with Natasha Morrison a distant second in 10.95 seconds and Kashieka Cameron third on 11.39.
Fraser-Pryce is now the fastest female sprinter alive, replacing the American Carmelita Jeter, who ran 10.64 in 2009.
Jeter congratulated Fraser-Pryce on her performance via Twitter. “I just woke to some amazing news. Shelly-Ann has done it again. I give credit when it’s due. You have come back from having a child and showed the world how talented and driven you are. You are officially the fastest women alive. Keep motivating these young queens.”
Fraser-Pryce’s win comes ahead of next month’s Tokyo Olympics, and the reigning world and two-time Olympic 100m champion is gearing up for that event.
Watch her make history in a stadium in Kingston at the JOA/JAAA’s Destiny Series on Saturday:
