The air in Doha was absolutely buzzing at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium! All eyes were locked on the women’s 100m, and the reason was pure legend: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the one and only “Pocket Rocket.” At 38, and rocking that signature neon pink hair after three years away from the Diamond League circuit, she was back. Everyone expected dominance in her final season. But tonight? Tonight felt different. The 20-year-old Clayton sisters, fresh off a World Relays bronze together, weren’t just mentees anymore – they were challengers!

After the race, the whispers started. An American coach’s blunt assessment felt like a splash of cold water: maybe, just maybe, at 38, that legendary explosive top-end speed is just starting to fade against the raw, fearless power of youth.

As Coach Rob put it, the feeling before the race was clear: “The women’s 100-meter dash at the Doha Diamond League is officially over, and let me tell you, that race did not end according to plan because Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was on the starting line. Almost anybody you ask will admit that she was the headliner—so much so that it was basically a foregone conclusion that she was going to win the race. Again, just admitting, like, being honest about how I felt before everything started. But that is also why we run the races.”

The gun cracked, and Shelly-Ann got out strong, looking like her old self. Coach Rob saw it too: she “charges to what appears to be more or less the front of the race.” But then, something amazing happened. Tia Clayton absolutely exploded, blazing across the line! Her twin sister, Tina, was right there with her.

As Coach Rob relayed the stunning outcome, “The thing is, she’s not alone. By the time she gets to the line, she’s not only not in front—she’s not in second place, and she’s not in third. She actually finished in fourth place.” He noted her time was “a low 11-second time—maybe 11.02, 11.03 (I’m not looking at the numbers right now).” The official times confirmed Tia Clayton won in a world-leading 10.92, Tina was second at 11.02, Britain’s Amy Hunt hit 11.03 for third, and Fraser-Pryce’s season-best 11.05 landed her fourth. It was a genuinely shocking upset and a massive moment.

Yet, as the Doha crowd slowly filtered out, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce walked off the track, head held high. Her legacy – 16 World Championship medals! – is untouchable. But the big question hangs in the air: Can the “Pocket Rocket” dig deep and reclaim her throne, or did the Clayton sisters just signal a definitive changing of the guard in world sprinting? The track season just got very interesting!

The Pocket Rocket’s Doha Dash: 4th Place, But All Smiles!

The Doha Diamond League saw Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hit the track, but the young Clayton twins stole the win, leaving the “Pocket Rocket” in fourth with an 11.05 time. Yet, despite not taking the top spot, her smile after the race was infectious.

“It had been a while since I competed consistently,” she shared, adding she was “glad that I finished 4th,” and was focused on “going back and building and coming for the next one.” Her positive outlook in fourth place was surprising but truly reflected her veteran mindset.

Juggling her legendary career with being a mom to seven-year-old Zyon is a key part of her story. She embraces the challenge, noting it’s a “long season” leading to the World Championships in Tokyo, and they’ll “continue to work, and hope for the best.” Her long-standing love for competing in Doha also fueled her optimism, beaming, “I’m so excited to come back again.” Can the “Pocket Rocket” use this race as a springboard to reignite her famous spark later this season? The track world is definitely waiting to see!