Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica poses during a photo call at the Athletics Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow, Scotland, February 14, 2020. /CFP
Jamaican sprint darling Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the second-fastest woman of all time behind 100 meters world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner when she clocked 10.63 seconds at a meet in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday.
Double Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce, who laid down a marker ahead of next month's Tokyo Olympics with her searing sprint, said her speed had taken ever her by surprise.
"Honestly no... I never expected I would run 10.6 and think it's a good thing because there was no pressure," Fraser-Pryce told reporters even as she screamed with excitement.
"I just wanted to get one run in before the (June 24-27) national championships and that's what I was really looking forward to."
American Griffith-Joyner still holds the women's 100 meters world record of 10.49 seconds, set in Indianapolis in 1988, as well as the three fastest times ever, with 10.61 and 10.62, also in 1988.
But Fraser-Pryce shaved 0.01 seconds off Carmelita Jeter's 10.64 set in 2009 to climb behind Griffith-Joyner on the all-time list.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica celebrates with her son after winning the Athletics World Championships women's 100 meters final in Doha, Qatar, September 29, 2019. /CFP
Running in an empty stadium of the country's Olympic Destiny Series in Kingston, Fraser-Pryce decimated the field in the first of three heats from a rocket start to finish ahead of former world championship finalist Natasha Morrison.
Fraser-Pryce, the reigning world champion after winning gold in Doha in 2019, said she had already set her sights on her next target.
"I'm lost for words because 10.6 has been a dream, a goal, I've been working so hard, being so patient to see it finally unfold. I'm so ecstatic," added the 34-year-old, who set her previous personal best of 10.70 seconds nine years ago.
"If I'm able to run 10.6 now, I'm just looking forward to what the process will bring. I'm continuing the work because I did say that this year I wanted nothing more than to break the 10.7 barrier and I did it.
"But now the focus is on making the national team then taking it from there. This is just one part of the puzzle, so you can't get too complacent and comfortable."
Mo Farah of Britain celebrates after victory and a world record in the men's one hour event at the Athletics Diamond League meeting in Brussels, Belgium, September 4, 2020. /CFP
Britain's four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah is in danger of missing out on the Tokyo Olympics after falling short of the 10,000 meters qualifying mark at a meet in Birmingham, England, on Saturday.
The 38-year-old finished eighth in the European Cup 10,000 meters with a time of 27 minutes and 50.54 seconds, 22 seconds short of the required time to make the Team Great Britain squad heading to Tokyo in July.
Farah, who won back-to-back 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters golds at the two previous Games, has until June 27 to make the required time of 27:28.
The Briton appeared to turn his back on track racing to focus on marathon running after the 2016 Olympics in Rio. However, he announced in late 2019 that he aimed to defend his 10,000 meters title in the Tokyo Olympics.