Stockholm, July 30 (IANS) Although reports came early this month that Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce would not be defending her 200 metres title at the World Athletics Championships next month, the reigning 100 metres champion is yet to make the final decision in this regard.
“It’s going to be loaded at the world championships. They’re all hungry so it’s great and it keeps me on my toes. I’m doing the 100m and 4X100m and my coach isn’t sure if I’m doing the 200m,” Xinhua quoted the 28-year-old as saying here on Wednesday.
Fraser-Pryce was also part of the 4X100 metres relay team that claimed the title in Moscow world Championship two years ago. She has showed a solid form in 100 metres sprint so far this season, winning the Diamond League Paris meet with the season’s world leading time of 10.74 seconds.
After the victory in Paris, Fraser-Pryce said she would skip the 200 metres race in Beijing, a decision that was taken by her coach which would allow her to focus on the 100 metres event. In fact her best 200 metres mark of the season has merely been 22.37 seconds which ranks 15th so far this year.
“I’ve earned the spot but my mind is more on the 100m. The 200m is definitely more strategic, I’m not an endurance runner so I prefer the 100m,” added the 100 metres double Olympic champion.
The 2015 IAAF World Championships will be staged at the National Stadium (Beijing), better known as the “Birds Nest”, which is a place that can bring good memory for Fraser-Pryce as she won her first Olympic medal back in 2008.
“I’m looking forward to going back to Beijing. It’s so ironic when I went in 2008, I had no idea I would get a medal. And here I am, years later, going back as a champion.”