Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser in town for Kipkeino classic

By Peter Ochieng

Olympic and world women 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is back in the country.

The Jamaican is back for the Absa Kip Keino Classic, set for Saturday this week at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

She won last year's title, and says she is back to defend it.

Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday night, she said she is glad to start her season in Nairobi, adding that the trick proved succesful last year.

"Last year, I had my first 100m race here after I started my season with 200m back in Kingston, Jamaica. I am glad I am starting my season here and I am really looking forward to it," she said.

The 36 year-old athlete known as Pocket Rocket said she is here to enjoy herself and try to win, given the fact that she has not taken to the track for a competitive race since September, 2022.

"I don’t know where I am as opposed to last year when I had at least ran one race in 200m in Kingston. This is me just coming to see where I am, have a good time and execute fantastic times.”

She said she feels young, despite being 36. “To be honest, I am feeling 21….which is good since no two years are the same so you continue to work and trust that whatever things you correct in training, things that you are working on you will execute them well on the race day," she added.

Fraser-Pryce is the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics 100m champion.

The Jamaican sprinter arrived in the country fresh from winning the 2023 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year in Paris, France.