- Shelly Anne announced she had picked up an injury
- She was already in the country for the one-day event
- America’s Sha’Carri Richardson will be the 200m star attraction
Jamaican sprint queen Shelly Anne Fraser Pryce has announced she has pulled out of Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic, just hours to the one-day meet after picking up an injury.
Fraser-Pryce was returning to the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour meet for a second time having dazzled last year, but after her last training session felt some discomfort and had to immediately leave for treatment.
“I was truly looking forward to kick off my season at one of the best athletic events I have experienced. I love competing in Nairobi and seeing my Kenyan fans, as there is an unspoken energy you can’t find anywhere else,” Fraser-Pryce stated on her official Facebook page.
She added; “Kenya was the beginning of something great last year and I’m really disappointed in not being able to run. I wish all those competing all the best and appeal to everyone to show up and support them. I know a lot of work was put into the event by the Organizers.”
Kip Keino Classic blessings
Shelly Anne Fraser-Pryce training at the Kasarani Annex
The Jamaican multiple world champion opened up her season at the Kip Classic last year before she went on to enjoy some superb form that saw her win the World title. She had hoped for a similar spell of luck this year, but a suspected knee injury has kept her out.
Even with her absence, the women’s 100m field will still be fully loaded.
USA’s 24-year-old Twanisha ‘Tee Tee’ Terry, the world 4x100m champion and winner of last month’s Continental Tour Gold meeting in Botswana as well as compatriot Teahna Daniels who is the Olympic 4x100m silver medallist will also be faces to watch.
New Zealand’s two-time Oceania champion Zoe Hobbs; Egypt’s Bassant Hemida, who was second behind Fraser-Pryce at the Kip Keino Classic last year and second behind Terry in Botswana; 23-year-old Rani Rosius from Belgium and 22-year-old Esther Mbagari of Kenya will also line up.
Richardson to light up 200m
Sha’Carri Richardson training at Kasarani
Meanwhile, the women’s 200m will feature USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson, who ran a world-leading 10.76 for the 100m at the recent Diamond League meeting in Doha.
Alexandra Burghardt, who was part of the German 4x100m team that won the European title last year, and Kyra Jefferson, the Pan American champion and three-time NACAC and NCAA champion, will be there to ensure it won’t be an easy race for Richardson.
In the field events, Anita Wlodarczyk, the greatest hammer thrower of all time, will make her long-awaited comeback in the city where she won last year with an African all-comers’ record of 78.06m.
Poland’s three-time Olympic and four-time world champion Wlodarczyk is back to defend her hammer title in her first competition since last June. The world record-holder injured herself last year in an altercation with a criminal and was forced to miss the bulk of the outdoor season.
World bronze medallist Janee’ Kassanavoid of the US and Romania’s European champion Bianca Ghelber will offer competition to the reigning Olympic champion.
Another Polish Olympic hammer champion, Wojciech Nowicki, leads the men’s field.
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