NAIROBI, May 12 (silubaba) -- Jamaican female sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will not run in the women's 100m at Saturday's Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi after injury ruled her out.
The three-time Olympic and 10-time world champion was set to be one of the biggest attractions at the fourth edition of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in the Kenyan capital.
Following a late withdrawal of Fraser-Pryce, the tournament's organizers Athletics Kenya is on Friday working to convince her American rival and the fourth fastest woman of all time Sha'Carri Richardson to change from 200m to 100m.
"I'm deeply disappointed to share that I will not be competing at the Kip Keino Classic. I was truly looking forward to kicking off my season at one of the greatest athletic events in east Africa. I love coming to Nairobi and seeing the fans and people; there is an unspoken energy you can't find anywhere else," said Fraser-Pryce in a statement which was read at a media briefing here on Friday.
The Jamaican, who also withdrew from the Botswana Challenge Tour Meet last month for personal reasons, flew out of Nairobi for Milan, Italy after suffering a knee injury in training on Thursday.
Fraser-Pryce, 36, ran a world leading 10.67 seconds at last year's Kip Keino Classic, before going on to win the world title by the same mark at the Oregon 2022 global track and field showpiece.
Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei confirmed they were in talks with Richardson to change to the 100m.
"You can't force anyone to run in a race they don't want but we're hoping she (Richardson) will agree," Tuwei said.
The American blasted to a world leading 10.76 seconds when she won the Doha Diamond League meeting on May 5. ■
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