AFTER Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s much-anticipated season opener on Saturday there is optimism, including from multiple Olympic medallist and world champion Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, that her Jamaican compatriot will book a spot for this summer’s Paris Games.

The Jamaica senior athletics championships, which offers qualification to the Olympic Games, is scheduled for next week.

Fraser-Pryce has been inactive on the track for the majority of the 2024 season, with her last race being the second leg of the women’s 4x100m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last August. Her last individual race was the 100m final at the championships in which she clocked 10.77 seconds for bronze.

The 37-year-old, who said she’ll retire at the end of this season, made her return at JAAA (Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association) Olympic French Foray at the National Stadium where she clocked 11.15 seconds to win her 100m heat ahead of Jodean Williams (11.20) and Sabrina Dockery (11.46).

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce receives a massage before competing in her first race of 2024 at JAAA Olympic French Foray at the National Stadium on Saturday.

It’s the second time in her senior career that her first race of the season took place after the month of May. In 2023 her season opener was in the 200m at the national championships in July.

Cuthbert-Flynn, though having reservations around Fraser-Pryce’s health, was encouraged by her season opener.

“I was quite impressed with the time of 11.15. It seems as if she didn’t push in the entire race; I think she was comfortable, but it is concerning that she has a strap on her knee and after the race she was shaking it out a bit,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“Of course, anybody is going to be rusty if you have not raced since last year and just being in training, and if it is that she has an injury that she’s been nursing [then] of course she’s going to be cautious. But, 11.15 is still a good time for her if it is in fact that she’s nursing an injury.”

Former national hurdler and track and field analyst Trishana McGowan, who was Fraser-Pryce’s training partner at the MVP Track Club, saw positives.

“Shelly-Ann looked good, especially for the first phase of her race — and even better, no sign of discomfort shown after crossing the line. With the national championships [next week], those are two indicators that the legend should be ready for the three rounds to come. I speak for many when I say it was a joy seeing her open her 2024 campaign after the injury last season,” she said.

Double Olympic Games 100m champion and five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce relaxes ahead of her race during JAAA Olympic French Foray at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Fraser-Pryce, who has had an illustrious career, is hoping to add to her eight Olympic medals, including gold in the 100m in 2008 and 2012.

However, with the national trials less than a week and a half away many may be worried about the five-time world champion’s readiness to battle for a coveted top three spot.

Cuthbert-Flynn and McGowan, though, are confident in Fraser-Pryce’s determination and resilience to get the job done.

“We’ve seen her over the years; she’s a big event runner when it comes to the Olympics, World Champs, trial. She performs,” said Cuthbert-Flynn.

“I’m really not worried except at the trial [as] you’re going to have rounds… But she’s a big performer; she’ll pull out the big one when she’s ready so I just think she wanted to possibly test what kind of time she could do, and I’m sure she’s the only one who will know how her knee is feeling,” Cuthbert-Flynn added

“My only concerns are race sharpness and the effect it can have during the turnaround time of semis and final. However, I trust both Shelly and Coach Walcott. Fraser-Pryce is a master of her craft and understands what her body requires throughout the rounds of her event, and in a few weeks — barring injury — we will see her going to another Olympics,” McGowan said.

Jamaica’s sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce competes in her first race of 2024 when she clocked 11.15 seconds for victory in her 100m heat at JAAA Olympic French Foray at National Stadium on Saturday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

Cuthbert Flynn also believes that Fraser-Pryce’s chances should be boosted by the issues surrounding her other compatriots.

“I don’t see anyone else running very fast. I know Brianna Lyston has been performing incredibly well, and I know people have been giving her a lot of flack [for announcing the end of her season earlier this month] but people don’t understand that the collegiate season can get rough on any athlete so it takes a toll on one’s body.

“Unfortunately, Elaine was limping off the track [recently] and, so yes, the field is pretty even. We don’t know who’s going to win [the women’s 100m at the national] trial or who’s going to be in the top three — it’s a quite open field,” she said.

McGowan says, regardless of the field or Fraser-Pryce’s condition, she should be heading to Paris.

“We are spoiled with multiple women that will represent us well in the sprints at the Olympics. Whether others are injured or healthy, I have her in the top three as one of the women to represent Jamaica in the 100m. The beauty of her talent is she does well at defying odds, and I think this season being her final Olympic Games chapter, ‘Mommy Rocket’ will give us yet another great headline,” she said.

Throughout her professional career Fraser-Pryce has appeared at every Olympic Games and secured at least one medal in each of the years: 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021.