Posted by By Gary Smith (World-Track), TrackAlerts
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s World and Olympic 100 meters champion Shelly Ann Fraser says she is not bothered by the recent defeats to American Carmelita Jeter, who has gotten the better of her Jamaican rivals since the World Championships.
Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 100 Metres Final during day three of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Fraser was soundly beaten by Jeter when the pair last met at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Greece last weekend, after the American raced to the third fastest time ever of 10.67 secs to leave the Jamaican trailing at a distant 10.88 secs.
But while Jeter celebrates her fabulous late season runs, Fraser is unconcerned, stating that her aim at the start of the season clearly was to peak to win the world title in Berlin, and that was accomplished.
“I am only scheduled to peak twice per year, not three or six times,” Fraser explained. “So I peak for National Championships, then I peak for the World Championships and try and hold that peak for as long as I can.”
Jeter finished third in Berlin behind Jamaicans Fraser and Kerron Stewart.
The American said afterwards that she had an off day (at World Championships) and came out hungry in Thessaloniki to prove that she is clearly the best this term.
And that she did.
The 29-year-old American executed well from start to finish for the third fastest time ever, only behind world record-holder Florence Griffith-Joyner and Marion Jones. Griffith-Joyner’s world record from 1988 is 10.49, while Jones ran 10.65 in 1998. But although lauding the winner for her gallant run in Greece, Fraser said Jeter, who wanted the victory, definitely had more to prove.
“[For] Camerlita, she is a different athlete because she has a lot more to prove … and she is obviously training as you can see from her build,” Fraser said.
“She obviously wanted it more than me, and I think she executed a perfect race when I watched the replay,” added Fraser, who won the world title in a national record 10.73 seconds.
Like sprint super star Usain Bolt, who cut his season short because of fatigue, Fraser, who suffered set backs with hamstring injury and appendix surgery, said she too was running on an empty tank.
“I am on, I would say a tank of gas barely above (empty),” she said. “I just did what I could do at that time.
“I am still feeling pain from my appendix surgery.”
Fraser, along with Michael Frater, a member of Jamaica’s 4×100m winning team, and 400m hurdles finalist Kaliese Spencer returned to the island Wednesday.
The trio were welcomed home at a small reception at the Norman Manley International Airport – government’s VIP lounge on arrival.
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cant you people stopping putting words in people mouth… SAF is not saying that she is not anything she is just comparing her pyshic to jeter’s. OH and L shut up!!! stop whinning… what is wrong if she says she is not flustered by her race what you want her to do chicken out??you whati find funny, when asafa use to run and break records and run fast times on the grand prix meets you guys cuss him out and say how he can only do that on the grand prix stage but on the big stage he fails to perform and when Jeter does you guys say how we need to step our game and all of that crap.. yes, you need to make your money on the grand prix stage and all but what sense does it make you can beat everyone on the grand prix stage but you dont have an OG or WCT to prove it… SAF as nothing to prove to jeter…
MY COMMENTS POSTED AT 1:30PM, WAS IN RESPONSE TO L.
Is her voice (CJ) sounding somewhat husky? Was it always like that? Just asking…
easy Shelly-Ann just be the lady and stay away from unnecessary talking. And continue to do what you have proven you can do. Win the major titles that matters most. Look ASAFA had a monopoly on 100M world record even then ,TYSON was the CELEBRATED world Champion! Fast times will always be mentioned, World and Olympic CHAMPION needs no clarification,qualification or justification. Easy my girl! Leave the hype, Just earn the STRIPE
Wow shelly is young but spoke like a grown Lady, ” I am scheduled to peak twice per yr and I did that” winning the Nationals and the World Title. Thats all!