Shelly seeks World Champs bye at NACAC

Two-time 100m Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce could get a bye into next year's IAAF World Athletics Championship in Qatar if she can pull off a win in the event this weekend at the NACAC Senior Championships.

Fraser-Pryce and Natoya Goule, who recently ran a national record of 1:56.15 in the 800m, head a 45-member team that will take part in the regional meet from Friday to Sunday in Toronto, Canada.

If they should emerge as winners in their events, they will be given wildcards to take part in their respective events at athletics' flagship event, as the IAAF has recently stipulated that winners of each event at the four regional championships will automatically qualify for the World Championship.

"This is a good opportunity for the athletes to cement their spots on the team that will participate in the World Championships next year, so I know that a lot of people will take it very seriously," President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Warren Blake, said.

"It will be competitive, but I believe that we can get some wins."

Fraser-Pryce, who took off a year to give birth to her son Zyon, has been having a great comeback season, as she has improved with each race.

Three weeks ago, the diminutive athlete recorded her first sub-11 second clocking when she ran 10.98 seconds to win the London leg of the IAAF Diamond League.

Meanwhile, Blake said that the association will be fielding its largest team at the regional championship, to capitalise on the IAAF's offer to hand out wildcards for the World Championship to the winners of each event at the meet.

"This is one of the largest teams that we have sent to a NACAC Senior Championships, and the bye is one of the reasons," Blake said.