Athletics. With Fraser-Pryce and Lyles, a princely sprint in Monaco
Queen’s racing world champion for the fifth time aged 35 in Eugene (USA) in mid-July, and now fourteen times world medalist – like legend Usain Bolt and only beaten by American icon Allyson Felix (20) – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has not slowed down since the Worlds-2022.
If she preferred to ignore the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (England) which “would be too much to manage”, the little Caribbean bombshell is nevertheless preparing to chain her third 100m in the space of four days on the track of the Louis II stadium. The first two were more than promising: with her 10”66 on Saturday in Chorzow, Poland, the best world performance of the year, and her 10”67 on Monday in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, as in the world final, the Jamaican is at five 100 m run under 10 sec 70 this season. More than ever in his career with exceptional longevity.
“I have more to give”
“It was one of those days when I didn’t feel very well, explained Fraser-Pryce on Monday evening, who skipped the press conference the next day on the eve of the Monaco meeting. I have more to give without a doubt. I just need to watch my classes and work a little more. But of course it’s gratifying to be constant around 10 sec 6/10 throughout the season. »
The warm temperature announced Wednesday evening – around 27 degrees – should help it continue its spread. Competition from her compatriot Shericka Jackson, more comfortable on the half-lap of which she was crowned world champion in Eugene, but still silver medalist in the 100m, too. The record of the Monaco meeting, 10 sec 72 run almost 25 years ago by the American Marion Jones, could well fall.
Lyles at the head of the world record
In Eugene, his supersonic 19”31 made Lyles the third performer in history over 200 m, twelve hundredths of the world record of Bolt, long presented as inaccessible (19.19 in 2009), in addition to offering him a second sequential world title. For his first race since, the Florida sprinter has no intention of slowing down either. On the contrary. “I said at the Worlds that I didn’t think I was at my peak of form,” he recalled on Tuesday. I said to everyone: ‘Give me a month and I will have the world record in my sights’”. It was two and a half weeks ago. A little early then?
“Every time I step onto the track, my goal is to get closer to the world record,” adopt Lyles. “Yes, I ran in 19”31 at the Worlds, but I expected to do that! (…) I want to shock myself! “says the 25-year-old American. He can count on two of his compatriots, the young nugget Erriyon Knighton, brand new world bronze medalist and author of 19”49 in the spring, at only 18 years old, and the 400m world champion Michael Norman, for the prod.
Twelve world champions 2022
Along with reigning two-time world champion, American Grant Holloway, and reigning Olympic champion, Jamaican Hansle Parchment, the 110 also looks great.
In total, a dozen of the 2022 vintage world champions are at the rendezvous at the foot of the Rock: to the sprinters are added in particular the Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim in the triple jump, the Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas in the triple jump, the Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo over 400m or the Kenyan Faith Kipyegon over 1500m.