Fraser-Pryce sets 100m world lead as Mboma pulls hamstring
Jamaican queen Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce set Kasarani stadium ablaze when she breezed past her opponents to win the women’s 100m in a new world-leading time of 10.68.
The 4.04 pm event was highly anticipated and when the immaculate women sprinters jogged out of the dugout, the stadium erupted in joy, the adrenaline was clearly there.
The battle beforehand was supposed to be one between Pryce,35, and Namibian princess Christine Mboma, only 18. Kenya’s record holder Maximmilia Imali was cheered along as she made her way to lane 8 of the race.
The pre-race presser held on Thursday brought two athletes from different generations who wanted to prove a point and leave a mark in Nairobi. For Christine Mboma, this was a race she savoured, a race she wanted to win so badly and probably emulate her mentor, a nine-time world champion, a double Olympic champion and an icon by all standards. When the gun went off, Pryce sprung off the blocks in a blistering pace, cheered on by the almost full to capacity Kasarani Stadium with Mboma hot on pursuit. Just before the tape, Mboma fell down in reeling pain, clutching her hamstring, signalling the end of the fairy tale.
Bassant Hemida of Egypt set a personal best of 11.02 to finish second with Shannon Ray(11.33) coming in third. Kenyan champion Imali settled for seventh place.
