Blog

Despite establishing herself as perhaps the greatest female sprinter of all time, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is not fully satisfied with her achievements in the sport.

Even after more than a decade of global dominance, countless gold medals, and her name etched permanently in the sprinting history books, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce isn’t slowing down.

Fraser-Pryce recently took part in the Doha Diamond League classic, where she finished fifth in what was her first Diamond League race since 2022, but with her, she is building up for the Tokyo World Championships, in what is expected to be the last year of her glamorous career.

Speaking candidly in a recent press conference before the race, the Jamaican sprint legend explained that her motivation remains rooted in two simple but powerful desires: to win and to run fast.

Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Harambee Stars Defender Joseph Okumu Poised for Career-Defining Clash Against European Giants PSG in French Cup Final

Harambee Stars Defender Joseph Okumu Poised for Career-Defining Clash Against European Giants PSG in French Cup Final

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on What Motivates Her

“I want to win and I want to run fast,” said Fraser-Pryce. “And I believe those two things are possible.”

It is a mantra that has driven the 37-year-old through triumphs, comebacks, and setbacks alike, fueling a career that shows no signs of fading—despite her GOAT status being well-secured.

But while her own ambitions remain crystal clear, Fraser-Pryce is equally inspired by how the sport around her has evolved. She’s taken note of a powerful shift in athlete mentality—especially among the younger generation of track stars.

Gor Mahia: How K’Ogalo Can Still Snatch FKF Premier League Title from Kenya Police Despite Latest Stumble

Gor Mahia: How K’Ogalo Can Still Snatch FKF Premier League Title from Kenya Police Despite Latest Stumble

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Reveals How Track Athletes Have Evolved

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reveals What Keeps Her Motivated to Keep Sprinting Despite Cementing GOAT Status

“I would say the biggest change I’ve seen is that ownership,” she said. “Athletes, whether they’re young or older, really owning their space and really showing up—not scared of whoever is in that race.”

“That’s good for athletics. When athletes show up and dominate—no matter who’s beside them—it brings out great competition. You get to see their personalities, know what they’re made of. That’s very important.”

She added that during her early years in track and field, many athletes were shy and uncertain of their goals, herself included. But today’s rising stars have flipped that narrative.

“This generation knows who they are, they know what they want, and they’re not afraid to say it. That’s inspiring.”

Former AFC Leopards Captain Lifts Lid on Career-Ending Plight at Ingwe

Former AFC Leopards Captain Lifts Lid on Career-Ending Plight at Ingwe

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: I Would Have Become a Hurdler

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reveals What Keeps Her Motivated to Keep Sprinting Despite Cementing GOAT Status

Fraser-Pryce also shared a glimpse of what might have been had she not been “assigned” to sprinting. When asked what event she would have chosen if not for the 100m and 200m, she laughed:

“I would do hurdles. I actually love the hurdles.”

She then recalled a humorous story from her high school days at Wolmer’s Girls’ School.

“Our coach lined us up and started assigning events—‘You’ll do hurdles, long jump, high jump.’ He picked everyone but me. I was the only one left standing, and I asked, ‘So what am I going to do?’ He just said, ‘Oh, you’re a sprinter.’ Like that was it! I never got to try anything else.”

Despite being “pushed” into sprinting, it turned out to be the perfect fit for the “Pocket Rocket,” whose legacy is built on consistency, resilience, and a relentless hunger to keep soaring higher.

And now, with nothing left to prove, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is still out on the track—chasing excellence simply because she believes she can.

Noah Lyles must show ‘sheer dominance’ to even be considered for the GOAT conversation, an ex-sprinter has claimed.

The Olympic champion has been tipped to join Usain Bolt as one of the greatest-ever track athletes.

Lyles has been told what he must do to enter the GOAT debate

Lyles has been told what he must do to enter the GOAT debateCredit:

Eight-time Olympic Bolt is considered the greatest sprinter of all-time

Eight-time Olympic Bolt is considered the greatest sprinter of all-

Lyles is currently the third fastest man in history across the 200m, with his personal best of 19.31secs only beaten by Bolt and Yohan Blake.

Meanwhile, his 100m gold in Paris last summer followed a trio of wins at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The American will defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles in Tokyo in September, having already won six World Championship gold medals.

However, former Bahamian sprinter Rodney Green believes Lyles has some way to go to be considered alongside Bolt.

Green discussed whether Lyles would enter the GOAT conversation by winning gold again in Tokyo with Justin Gatlin on the Ready Set Go podcast.

The 39-year-old admitted: “I definitely don’t think it would move him into a GOAT situation.

“This is no shade to Noah, I do think Noah is a clutch champion, but he hasn’t shown enough sheer dominance in the 100m yet.”

As for what it would take for Lyles to be put into that debate, Green added: “He would have to defend both medals.

“He would have to be the defending world champion, he would have to defend that gold and he would have to be the defending Olympic champion and win that gold again in 2028.

“In between those years he would have to show sheer dominance.”

Green believes Lyles must have an era of ‘sheer dominance’ to be considered a great

Green believes Lyles must have an era of ‘sheer dominance’ to be considered a greatCredit: Ready Set Go Podcast

The American will defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m world titles this September

The American will defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m world titles this SeptemberCredit: AFP

Lyles won his first Olympic gold medal in the French capital last year alongside a bronze in the 200m.

He had previously won bronze in the same event at the previous Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 27-year-old also holds the national record in both the 200m and 4x100m already in his career.

Green believes the required dominance is still lacking, though, explaining: “Most of the Olympic champions after the Olympic medal, they usually dominate going over the next few years. That would be the thing for me.

“He has a lot of hardware, he has a lot of accomplishments but defending those medals back-to-back would be a thing for me.”

As for what sets Bolt apart, he said: “It’s no secret he wants to be one of the greatest of all-time, one of the best to ever do it.

Michael Johnson: Noah Lyles would DESTROY Tyreek Hill in a 100M dash race

“If we’re going to hold him to those standards, the benchmark would be Usain Bolt. If you do that and take his championships, Worlds and Olympics, they’re mostly golds”

Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals during his legendary career along with a further 11 titles at the World Championships.

The Jamaican remains the world record holder in each of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, with each of his times set over a decade ago.

Gatlin believes Lyles could move into the GOAT conversation as early as September, though, with another dominant display in Japan.

He revealed: “I think if he goes back and defends his World Championship titles from the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, he’s definitely in the GOAT category.”

Lyles’ fellow American was a two-time world champion and won gold in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics during his career.

He also joined Bolt on the podium in the event at both the 2012 and 2016 Games after taking bronze and silver, respectively.

Meanwhile, his personal best of 9.74seconds in the 100m makes him the fifth fastest man of all-time.

Noah Lyles opened up on remaining grounded despite becoming a three-time global champion at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. That year, he scripted history by winning gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, becoming the first sprinter to achieve the treble since Usain Bolt accomplished the feat in 2015.

Following his remarkable track season in 2023, he received the nomination for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year alongside other top athletes including Mondo Duplantis, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Karsten Warholm and Neeraj Chopra among others.

Ahead of the awards in December, in an interview with World Athletics, Noah Lyles was asked if his historic feat had changed his attitude. He strongly denied it, stating:

“I’m not different. I’m still the same Noah. If anything, I’m more hungry than before because I’ve proved to myself that I can do it, so now I’m even more eager to do it for next year. It’s almost like another fire has been ignited for next year.”

He went on to win the award in the men’s track events category. In the women’s track division, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon received the recognition.

Notably, during the 2024 season, Noah Lyles achieved the biggest accomplishment of his career by becoming the Olympic gold medalist in the 100m. He also added a bronze medal in the 200m to his Olympic tally, having previously collected bronze in the same event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Noah Lyles reflects on pulling out of latest 2025 race with World Championships in mind

: Noah Lyles at Adidas Atlanta City Games 2023

Noah Lyles, who was set to compete in the 150m at the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games on May 17, withdrew from the event due to an ankle injury. He sustained the injury two weeks prior, and since it hadn’t fully recovered before the race, he decided to opt out. In an interview with NBC Sports, he explained his decision, stating:

“Unfortunately, I just got a really tight ankle. It just kind of surprised us, came around two weeks ago. We came here thinking that anything could happen, it could loosen up, but we’re just like, it’s not getting better. Let’s just play it safe.”

With the 27-year-old already having two byes for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as the defending 100m and 200m champion, he and his team believed there was no need to rush the return to competition.

Last time when Lyles competed at the Atlanta City Games, he missed out on scripting history with a world-record performance, but breached the American record instead in the 150m with a 14.41s run, just behind Usain Bolt’s 14.35s.

Abhiruchi is a US Olympics journalist at Sportskeeda, specializing in Athletics, Swimming, Gymnastics, and Wrestling among other sports. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has over 2 years of prior experience in the sports journalism sector.

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are Abhiruchi’s favorite Olympians. She began following them in 2018, and seeing their transformation from initially not wanting to play together to becoming the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair inspires her.

Track & Field excites Abhiruchi the most because of the diverse range of events involved in it. Neeraj Chopra’s historic performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics stands as her favorite Olympic moment as it was India’s first gold in track and field events. She feels that focus should be placed on up-and-coming athletes to increase the coverage of Olympic sports during the off-season.

Abhiruchi applies journalistic principles learnt while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree by prioritizing first-hand information, cross-checking via multiple reliable sources, and fact-checking for accuracy. She follows reputed sources and numerous established athletes on social media platforms to remain updated.

When not reporting, Abhiruchi enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

The Track and Field team continued its strong spring season with a competitive showing at the prestigious Princeton Elite Invitational, hosted this past weekend at Weaver Stadium. Facing off against some of the top collegiate programs in the region, the team delivered several standout performances, highlighted by freshman standout Isabel Fernandez placing fourth in the women’s 400-meter dash and senior sprinter Kiara Booker finishing fifth in the women’s 100-meter sprint.

The Princeton Elite meet, known for its fast track and deep field of athletes, provided the perfect stage for athletes to test themselves ahead of upcoming championship qualifiers. Fernandez, who has been building momentum all season, demonstrated poise and power in the 400m, clocking a personal best of 54.62 seconds. Her time marks not only her fastest of the season but also the second-fastest in school history.

“I felt really good coming out of the curve,” Fernandez said following the race. “I’ve been working a lot on my last 100 meters, and I could feel the difference today. There’s still more work to do, but I’m happy with the progress.”

Fernandez’s fourth-place finish came in a stacked field featuring several athletes ranked in the top 50 nationally. Her result solidifies her as a strong contender heading into the conference championships, and she continues to improve with each meet.

Also turning heads was senior Kiara Booker, who sprinted to a fifth-place finish in the women’s 100m dash with a time of 11.87 seconds. Booker, known for her explosive starts, battled a slight headwind in the finals but managed to hold her own in a highly competitive race. Her performance is her third consecutive top-five finish this season, a testament to her consistency and veteran leadership.

“It wasn’t the cleanest race I’ve had, but I stayed focused and just pushed through the last meters,” said Booker. “These are the kinds of races that make you sharper. I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

Beyond Fernandez and Booker, the team saw solid performances across the board. Junior Leah Daniels placed seventh in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:09.34, and the women’s 4x400m relay team finished sixth in a season-best time of 3:45.89. On the men’s side, sophomore sprinter Chris Mabry narrowly missed the finals in the 200m, finishing tenth overall with a personal best of 21.47 seconds.

Head coach Marcus Taylor expressed pride in the team’s effort and growth. “This meet is always a great measuring stick. We saw a lot of athletes step up today, and we’re moving in the right direction. Isabel and Kiara really led the way, but everyone brought energy.”

With championship season quickly approaching, the team now turns its focus to final tune-ups and strategic training. The results from Princeton Elite have provided valuable feedback and a clear sense of where the team stands among elite competition.

As the postseason looms, Fernandez and Booker’s performances serve as a reminder of the team’s depth and potential. With continued preparation and focus, Track and Field looks poised to make an impact in the coming weeks.

Ferdinand Omanyala (second from left) with teammates Stephen Odhiambo, Meshack Babu and Bonface Mweresa after Kenya qualified for the World Athletics Championships.

Ferdinand Omanyala has explained why Kenya’s historic 4 x 100m relay qualification at the upcoming Tokyo World Championships will forever change the country’s sprinting.

Kenya’s sprinting revolution has reached a new milestone. For the first time in over 40 years , the country qualified for the World Athletics Championships in the men’s 4x100m relay last Sunday in China — a landmark moment that Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, believes will redefine the nation’s sprinting identity.

In a tightly contested heat against the likes of Kishane Thompson’s Jamaica, Boniface Mweresa gave Kenya a sharp start, exploding out of the blocks before passing the baton to Omanyala on the backstretch.

Omanyala did what he does best — turned on the afterburners — and handed the baton over with a solid gap to Meshack Babu.

Stay updated with the Latest Sports News from Pulse Sports.

The third leg runner resisted pressure from Belgium’s Kobe Vleminickx before safely delivering to Stephen Odhiambo. The anchor man held off a late Belgian surge to clock 38.51 seconds — enough to finish second behind Belgium, who edged the heat with a national record of 38.49.

The performance not only booked Kenya’s ticket to the World Championships in September but also signaled a new chapter for a country globally renowned for distance running.

Ferdinand Omanyala: This Will Change Kenyan Sprinting

Ferdinand Omanyala: Why Kenya’s Historic 4 x100m World Championship Qualification Will Redefine Kenyan Sprinting

Ferdinand Omanyala . / Team Kenya

“I loved it when we qualified,” Omanyala said after setting a new African Record in the 150 meters at the Atlanta Games. “You could see from the photos and the videos — I was extremely happy because it’s been my dream to draw as many sprinters as possible in this country.”

Omanyala, who normally anchors the relay, revealed the team took a risk by changing the order — a move that ultimately paid off.

“We made a big change. Usually I always anchor, but this time I ran the second leg. I told them, ‘This stick is going to get to you ahead of these guys.’ That psyched them up. The race was already made on the backstretch. From there, it was just about pushing to the end.”

The impact of this qualification, Omanyala insists, goes beyond just statistics or medals.

“For me, it’s a plus because they’re going to have a different experience once they get to the World Championships. All those athletes going for the 4×1 will leave with a completely different perspective on athletics,” he said. “It’s about more than the race — it’s about seeing what the professional sprint world looks like.”

Omanyala’s belief in relays as a springboard for Kenyan sprinting predates his rise to stardom in the 100m.”

Ferdinand Omanyala: We Can Inspire Generations

Ferdinand Omanyala: Why Kenya’s Historic 4 x100m World Championship Qualification Will Redefine Kenyan Sprinting

“Funny thing is, when I started sprinting, I never imagined I’d become a star in the 100m. My hope and faith was all in the relay. I believed the relay could do better. And now, the relay is catching up — and we’re just inspiring generations,” he said.

As Kenya heads to the global stage with its quartet of Mweresa, Omanyala, Babu, and Odhiambo, the country does so with more than just a qualifying time. It carries a new sense of identity — one that embraces the sprint lanes as confidently as it has the high-altitude endurance trails.

“I’m hoping that the relay team will always be in major championships going forward,” said Omanyala. “Because once we get there, everything changes.”