Staff Reporter.
@WorldAthletics.
Jamaica’s two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has become the second-fastest woman in history after running 10.63 seconds in Kingston.
The 34-year-old, who also won world gold at Doha 2019, streaked clear to win a national trials warm-up event in Kingston.
American Griffith-Joyner still holds the women’s 100 metres world record of 10.49 seconds, set in Indianapolis in 1988, as well as the three fastest times ever, with 10.61 and 10.62, also in 1988.
Griffith-Joyner scorched to a world record 10.49 seconds in 1988 before retiring less than a year later.
Fraser-Pryce’s time eclipses the 10.72 seconds run by American Sha’Carri Richardson as the fastest time in the world this year. It is an improvement of 0.07 seconds on her previous personal best of 10.70, set in 2012.
The result will increase the anticipation for the event at the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.
“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 just wanted to get one run in before the (June 24-27) national championships and that’s what I was really looking forward to.”
“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,” added the 34-year-old, who set her previous personal best of 10.70 seconds nine years ago.
“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.
“But now the focus is on making the national team then taking it from there. This is just one part of the puzzle, so you can’t get too complacent and comfortable.”
In addition to Fraser-Pryce and 21-year-old newcomer Richardson, Rio 2016 champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and Britain’s world silver medallist Dina Asher-Smith have also put in impressive performances this season.
Fraser-Pryce will run at the Jamaican Championships later in June before setting her sights on the Tokyo 100m final on 31 July.