Sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce returns to competition with commanding performance at Kingston’s Velocity Fest 17 meeting
Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce kicked off her 2025 season in impressively, clocking a wind-assisted 10.94 seconds in the women’s 100 meters at Saturday’s Velocity Fest 17 competition held at Kingston’s National Stadium.
The 38-year-old veteran, competing for the first time since last year’s Paris Olympics, dominated the first of three preliminary heats with the day’s fastest performance. Her time was helped by a tailwind of 3.1 meters per second, which is above the allowed limit.
Although posting the quickest time in the preliminary rounds, Fraser-Pryce, as predicted, opted not to participate in the final.
“It feels good to start a bit earlier than usual,” Fraser-Pryce, who is set to retire from the sport at the end of the season, said. “It’s a long season—very long—so I’m really just making sure that I choose my races wisely, stay healthy, and continue to train.”
Watch Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce At Velocity Fest 17
Meanwhile, Tina Clayton, who won her heat in 11.12 seconds (2.7m/s), returned to capture the final with a time of 11.17 seconds against a slight headwind of -0.7 m/s.
Natasha Morrison, who was second to Fraser-Pryce in the heats in 11.01, secured second place in the final in 11.29, while Serena Cole and Kemba Nelson tied for third at 11.30.
Meanwhile, 2024 World Indoor 60m bronze medalist Ackeem Blake flashed to 9.96 seconds (+1.7m/s) to win the men’s 100m race.
Nigel Ellis finished in second place with 10.11, while Bryan Levell rounded out the podium places with 10.19.
