Two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has hailed the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships as the foundation of Jamaica's athletics success.

The 2009 World Champion and London 2012 Olympic 200m silver medallist, a big fan of Wolmer's first-year Class Two sprinter Shauna Helps, also shared her thoughts on the talented 15-year-old.

Fraser-Pryce, a former Champs 100m finalist for Wolmer's herself, reminisced on her days as a competitor and underlined what it meant to return as Olympic champion, knowing how the meet has contributed to her own development.

"Wow, Champs is so exciting, I still feel like I'm here competing, and I love the atmosphere among our top athletes pushing themselves," she beamed. "Of course, I am a born and bred Wolmerian and, of course, I'm cheering for Wolmer's and having a lot of fun; I'm just enjoying it all."

"Champs is extremely important towards the continued development of Jamaica's track and field. It gives the athletes an opportunity to compete and compete well. It's almost similar to an Olympic Games - the anxiety and nervousness; everything involved with being an athlete competing at the top level, and I definitely think that it's a tradition that will continue," she added.

"This has produced some of the greatest athletes, and I think Jamaica will continue to produce top-class athletes because of this meet," Fraser-Pryce noted before turning her attention to Helps.

"Shauna (Helps) is a wonderful talent and yes, I was a trouble maker in school and to come back and see my athletes do so well and having the opportunity to go back and talk to them about my experiences, I am humbled, and I know that they have hope because I have left Wolmer's and I'm now Olympic and World Champion," said Fraser-Pryce.

Encouraged

Recently nominated for the prestigious Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award, Fraser-Pryce, who was in Rio de Janeiro a few days ago as Jessica Ennis was presented with the award, said that she was deeply encouraged by the recognition.

"I can tell you it was a huge encouragement for me. The experience was great, and I took away so much from the awards, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year," she said. "Training is great, I can't complain, it's been a wonderful season. I haven't had any injuries, and I'm grateful, so I'm just working and working and working."

- A.L.