The vanguard of Caribbean athletics had much to celebrate at the 2018 renewal of the JN RAcers grand Prix track and field meet at Kingston's National Stadium on Saturday evening. Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce, Kirani James, triple-jumper Shaneika Rocketts and Afro-brit Zharnel Hughes each re-wrote the Meet Record in their respective event - with flat sprinter Hughes posting the world-leading time over the 100m this year.
2008 and 2012 double Olympic championFraser-Pryce returned from giving birth to her first child (son, Zyon) this being her first engagement on local soil since becoming a mother.
"I am just taking it a race at a time and trying to improve. But I am excited about the time and I am just going to keep working and looking forward to the rest of the season," the sprint queen said in a post-race interview.
American Jenna Prandina who defeated Fraser-Pryce at the Cayman Invitational, had to settle for second this time in 11.14s, while Jamaica's rising 16-year-old sensation Briana Williams - a fast finisher - was third in 11.26s.
Hughes, whose 9.91s on the night bettered his previous PB of 10.01s and the previous world lead of 9.92s, stated he was "feeling really good, I have to give God thanks first for making this possible and my team. My mom is in the stands so I want to dedicate this to her and my team," said the Anguillan native who switched allegiance.
The fast-finishing Hughes won ahead of American Noah Lyles (9.93s) and Jamaica's Yohan Blake (10.00s), to bring the curtains down on another pulsating Grand Prix.
James, the 2012 Olympic Champion and the 2016 silver medallist, produced a late burst over the last 10 seconds to pip the fast-starting American Fred Kerley (44.36s) on the line.
James, who has a personal best of 43.74 set in 2014, was suffering from Graves' disease and has been nursing injury for a while, missing out on the London World Championship in 2017.
He last raced on April 28, 2017 at the Drakes Relay where he finished sixth in 46.21s, which was his slowest time in nine years.
James' countryman, Bralon Taplin, was third in 45.11s
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