Kingston, Jamaica: Two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Sherika Jackson start the 100m at the Jamaica Olympic Field Trials on Thursday.
Fraser-Pryce, crowned in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, won the race in Kingston in 10.98 seconds (0.7 m / s).
The eight-time Olympic medalist, 37, is looking for a new title at the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26, and only gained momentum after he resumed competition in mid-June.
The 29-year-old Jackson, the double distance world champion, was so comfortable in his heat that he won in 10.99 (0.9 m / s).
The two riders, who are part of Jamaica’s hat-trick at Tokyo 2021 behind Elaine Thompson-Herah, who was crowned in Rio in 2016, will miss the Paris Olympics after withdrawing from Wednesday’s trials due to injury.
Fraser-Pryce and Jackson meet on Friday for the semifinals and finals, where one of the top three spots is up for grabs.
Over 400 meters, 22-year-old Antonio Watson, the surprise world champion from Budapest, withdrew with about 120 meters to go and will not compete at the Olympics.
Kishane Thompson won the men’s 100 meters in 9.82 seconds.
A year ago, Thompson ran 9.91 seconds in the first round but didn’t make it to the semifinals.
He tied the Oblique Seville personal best earlier this month and the Jamaican was 9.79 seconds ahead of Ferdinand Omanyala in the world.
Defending champion Sevilla was uncharacteristic as he clocked 9.98 seconds, while indoor 60m bronze medalist Akkim Blake was another runner within 10 seconds at 9.95 seconds (1.0m/s).
