Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce looking forward to raucous return in Nairobi

Jamaican sprint sensation Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce has called on fans in the country to turn up in large numbers on 13 May 2023 when she returns to Nairobi to take part in the fourth edition of the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour that will be held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Speaking after being confirmed for the event, the 3-time Olympic Gold medalist and 10-time World Champion, revealed how she cannot wait to get back to the country after being warmly received back in 2022 which was her first time being in the country.

Sprint sensation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce set to return for Kip Keino Continental Tour

“Hi guys, I am coming back to Nairobi for the Kip Keino Classic on May 13 and I will race in the 100m. Last year was awesome and fantastic and all those words. The stadium was just filled with so much excitement, noise, music and the crowd was packed which was so much fun.

I want to see you in Nairobi so make sure that you turn up because we are going to have some fun, we are going to show up and of course we will run some fast times and rock that stadium like we did last year. See you in Nairobi!” she said in a video.

This is the second time Mummy Rocket will be competing in Kenya, having made her debut last year at the same one-day competition.

Competing in Kenya for the first time in her long and successful career, the 36-year-old delighted the thousands of fans as the Kasarani Stadium with a 10.67 (-0.4m/s) victory in the 100m.

Not only was it a meeting record, it was also a Kenyan all-comers’ record and the fastest ever season opener of any 100m sprinter in history.

She finished miles ahead of Egypt’s Bassant Hemida who set a national record of 11.02 in second as USA’s Shannon Ray crossed the line in third after clocking 11.33 in a race where Olympic 200m silver medalist Christine Mboma had been in contention for a top-three finish but pulled up injured.

“It was very good, the atmosphere was fantastic,” said Fraser-Pryce after clocking her third sub-10.7 run within 12 months back then.

Omanyala targeting sub 10 performance in South Africa Grand Prix

Kenya’s very own Ferdinand Omanyala, who is the reigning Commonwealth and the African champion, has also been confirmed for the event.

It is at the same event that Omanyala also set the new African record in the 100m as he clocked 9.77s back in September 2021 to break the previous record of 9.84s held by South Africa’s Akani Simbine.