Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said on Thursday (August 27) that being patient through the different phases of her race resulted in her lifetime best 10.60 seconds over 100m, as she turned the tables on Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The 34-year-old Fraser-Pryce, who says she intends to retire at the end of next season, shot from the blocks, separated herself from the field mid-race and managed to hold off a fast-finishing Thompson-Herah, who ran a fast 10.64s.

Shericka Jackson was third in 10.92s in yet another Jamaican sweep of the medal positions.

Only two women have run faster than “Mommy Rocket’s” time on Thursday, the world record holder, Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49s) and Thompson-Herah (10.54s). The performance provided encouragement for the two-time Olympic champion, who insisted that she still has not run her best race, but that Thursday’s performance was better than she had delivered prior.

“I was just being patient with my phases. It’s still something that comes a little bit difficult for me,” she said after her lifetime-best performance that came in chilly conditions.

“I don’t have the best technique there is as a sprinter so I have to be so deliberate in my efforts to make sure that I cement those phases and I think that tonight that made the difference.”

She expressed her delight at having dominated the race that, in addition to her compatriots Thompson-Herah and Jackson, also had so many talented sprinters like Marie Jose Ta Lou from the Ivory Coast, who finished fourth, plus Swiss sprinters Ajla del Ponte and Olympic 100m and 200m finalist Mujinga Kambudji.

“It was a very good field and tonight I am just happy that I stuck to it. Every race is a different moment and you just have to live each moment as they come so I was glad I was able to step to the line, having that vision and trust in the process and tonight I am walking away with a personal best and I am seriously excited about that,” she said, revealing that she thinks running even faster is still possible.

“I definitely still think I am able to do that (go under 10.60). Tonight, the weather was chilly but when you get to the line and the starter says ‘on your marks’ you totally forget about the weather so I am hoping as the season goes I will be able to put together more solid races,”

Fraser-Pryce, citing fatigue, has withdrawn from the blue ribbon Diamond League event in Paris tomorrow.

Thompson-Herah and compatriot Shericka Jackson, the only remaining Jamaicans, hope for another fast time in what has been an extraordinary season of sprinting.

Related articles:

• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce out of Paris DL 100m clash, citing fatigue
• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leads third Jamaican 100m sweep at Lausanne DL