Shelly a wi prime minister - Waterhouse celebrates as sprint queen heading for ninth World Championships

In Waterhouse, St Andrew, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is more than a sprinting legend, she's family.

On Friday, Fraser-Pryce qualified for the Tokyo World Championships slated for September by placing third in the women's 100 metres final at the Jamaica National Trials at the National Stadium. The Olympic gold medallist's home community remains steadfast in its support, proud of her performance and hopeful for what's next.

Along Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Drive, the street renamed in her honour, residents said their pride hasn't wavered.

"I nuh have one doubt she a go win," her aunt, Marie Simpson, told THE STAR. "Mi proud a mi niece bad bad, and she ago take it to dem inna Tokyo too."

On Friday, Fraser-Pryce clocked 10.91 seconds, behind winner and national champion Tina Clayton (10.81) and Shericka Jackson (10.88), securing a place on the national team heading to Tokyo. Despite not claiming first place, she received thunderous applause from the crowd, many of them fellow Jamaicans proud to witness what could be her final race on home soil. Simpson said the community's consistent support means a lot to her niece, and she believes that energy helps to carry the athlete on and off the track.

"Showing up matter eno. It do more than it look and anno just now we a show up fi we Shelly," she said.

For many residents, supporting Fraser-Pryce is a long-standing tradition. One woman who has lived in Waterhouse for decades said she never misses a race.

"Sometimes mi cya go support her in person," she said. "But di TV tun on same way. She nuh leave we round here. She always keep we inna di loop." Another added, "We respect her differently, win or lose."

Fraser-Pryce's relationship with the community stretches far beyond athletics. Many residents recalled growing up with her and still view her success as part of their own story.

"A two bus a we left from yah so go Stadium," one man said. "A wi girl dat eno. A we and her grow yah so eno."

Oniel, another community member, pointed to the road leading through the neighbourhood, which he says was repaved due to her influence.

"First race she run, she fix di whole road and pave it," he said. "More than 50 year up deh so nuh fix eno and a she come fix it."

He added that her support for the community goes well beyond infrastructure.

"Whole heap a youth she look out for. A nuh like some people who make it and lef outta dem country. She back di whole a round her, and we back her," he said.

"Shelly-Ann a wi government. She a wi prime minister," Oniel continued. "She help out a lot a elders. Everybody get dem parcel. Every holiday, Christmas, back-to-school, Easter, yuh can look out fi a treat."

According to him, her support is not seasonal, but consistent throughout the year.

"We affi show up fi wi girl, all if she never show up fi we. When yuh see some people blessed, yuh nuffi question it cause a di good weh dem do. And a whole heap a things she do, not just fi right yah so, but fi di whole Waterhouse," he added.

Despite not winning another national title, residents said they remain proud of her efforts.

"Mi satisfy wid di position and di time weh she run," one woman shared. "Mi know her mindset, she nah kill up herself. If she reach ova so, yuh ago see di real 'Pocket Rocket'," she said, referring to the diminutive sprinter's long-standing nickname.