Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Trayvon Bromell, and Erriyon Knighton Make Sprint History

Image of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Legado OficialPE - “Competitions continue at the Atlético de la Videna Stadium” on August 9, 2019.

Over the last seven days (June 1-7, 2021) we have seen the historic marks in the world of track and field. In particular the 100m and 200m, but more recently, also the 10,000m.

The diminutive Jamaican powerhouse, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce came back in full form blowing away all competition. At the ripe age of 34, she threw down the second-fastest time ever in the 100m dash with an astounding 10.63 seconds!

This not only puts her only one position behind the incomparable Florence Griffith — who tragically passed away at the very same age — but it places her as the one to beat at the Tokyo Olympics in a few months and solidifies her as the most accomplished female sprinter in history.

Not to be outshone, the ever-rising comeback story, Trayvon Bromell, increased his world number one time and personal best by running a 9.77 second 100m dash.

Bromell became the ninth person to ever run under 9.80 seconds, and he looked relaxed in doing so. It excites me to think of where he could go. What hurts is not having Christian Coleman eligible due to drug test violations, because that 4x100 team might be primed to drop a time capable of challenging the World Record…

Next on the sprint side, was almost as impressive as Fraser-Pryce’s 100m accolade, and it came from a 17-year-old no less.

Erriyon Knighton has been on everyone’s lips this year, much in the same way Matthew Boling was back in 2019. The Tampa Hillsborough High School student chose to turn professional during his junior year after displaying some dominating performances.

This week he stunned everyone by breaking Usain Bolt’s (yes, THAT Usain Bolt) under-18 youth 200m record. He took off 0.02 seconds to register a time of 20.11 seconds! Bolt’s record had stood for 18 years, but Knighton saw to it by running past Trayvon Bromell in the closing steps and set the world abuzz.

He still has a ways to go to take down the fastest time ever run by a seventeen-year-old. That record, also held by Bolt stands at 19.93. You might be asking, wait…how can he have broken Bolt’s record at the age of seventeen but still not have the fastest time by a seventeen-year-old?

As with most youth sports, because Bolt turned 18 during the same calendar year he broke the 200m youth record, rules dictate that time does not count towards the record Knighton broke, but he still holds the fastest time ever run at seventeen years of age.

In case you didn’t know, Knighton has only been running for the last three years. He was talked into trying out for track after football by his coach due to the speed he displayed on the football field as a 6’3” receiver. It’s clearly paid off. Can’t wait to see what some more experience can bring.

It should also be known that Knighton has qualified for the Olympic Trials in Eugene this month, and will become the youngest male to do so for the United States since the great Jim Ryun in 1964.

Last, but certainly not least, on June 6th, 2021, Sifan Hassan from the Nederlands tore up the 10,000m distance with a new world record.

Clocking a ridiculous time of 29 minutes 6.02 seconds. She did so on her home soil, taking off the exact same amount of time it took Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to complete her new 100m standard — 10.63 seconds!

The Ethiopian-born refugee took down Ethiopian runner Almaz Ayana’s record of 29:17.45 to complete the feat. Hassan already holds the world record for both the 5km road race, the mile, and the one hour run.

Sifan has been under some light suspicion over the last several years due to a four-year doping ban on her coach, former Nike coach Alberto Salazar. Most likely feel Siffan is clean, but Salazar’s history casts a dark shadow on his athletes, especially given the investigations and accounts from former athletes in the Nike Oregon Project camp.

Either way, that’s an incredible time, and I am sure we all hope to see spectacular things as the season heats up and the Games get underway!