Sha’Carri Richardson pounded her chest just two steps before crossing the finish line.
With a confident smile on her face, she knew that victory was already in her grasp. Those who underestimate her as a top sprinter in the upcoming Paris Olympics would do well to reconsider.
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Sha’Carri Richardson added another achievement to her “I’m Not Back, I’m Better” tour as she sprinted the 100-meters in just 10.71 seconds at the U.S. track trials on Saturday. This remarkable feat makes her the fastest woman in the world in 2024. Moreover, her impressive performance has officially secured her a spot in the upcoming women’s race in France, which starts on August 2.
For the third time during the meet, Richardson had a poor start and had to make up ground. Despite this, he managed to finish the race strongly and clearly, marking his third consecutive race with a strong finish.
Melissa Jefferson, the 2022 U.S. champion, watched as her training partner edged ahead by a mere .09 seconds. The winner, who earned a spot on the women’s 100-meter team, was another sprinter in coach Dennis Mitchell’s camp. Twanisha Terry finished third and secured her place in the team as well.
Richardson expressed his gratitude stating, “I feel honored and believe that every chapter of my life has prepared me for this moment.”
Three years ago, at just 21 years old, the Texan athlete won the same race in a time of 10.86 seconds. However, her victory was short-lived as it was later stripped due to a positive marijuana test. This incident highlighted not only her own battles with depression but also the outdated anti-doping regulations. Despite this setback, the determined athlete has continued to persevere and has now once again achieved success in the competition.
Richardson presents herself as a transformed individual, one who has evolved into a better and more attuned version of herself since her electrifying appearance at Hayward Field in 2021. Back then, her flowing orange hair made her look like a rising star in the world of sports.
Choosing to stay home during the Tokyo Olympics, she focused on improving both on and off the track. Her hard work paid off as she claimed victory at the national championship in 2023 and confidently declared, “I’m not back, I’m better.” This statement was soon validated when she went on to win the world title just a month later.
Handing her the gold medal in Paris might be quite a risky bet, considering the tough competition she is up against. Olympic medalists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Elaine Thompson-Herah – the two-time defending champion – are all set to participate in the Jamaican trials next weekend.
The math for the upcoming event was thrown into disarray due to Thompson-Herah’s recent injury, causing Fraser-Pryce to be a relatively infrequent sight in 2024.
Richardson emerged as the frontrunner for the victory, and it’s hard to disagree with that considering she outperformed the season’s best time, despite a subpar start and even pulling up and pounding her chest before crossing the finish line.
During the men’s qualifying round, Noah Lyles, the current world champion, set an impressive record by completing his 100 preliminary heat in just 9.92 seconds. This was the fastest time recorded among all the participants in the first round.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Lyles faced the daunting challenge of battling depression during the Tokyo Olympics, just like Richardson. Despite his struggles, he managed to qualify for the games and secured a bronze medal in the 200-meter race.
Lyles expressed his joy of feeling like himself after a prolonged period of time saying, “It’s been ‘a long time’ for a long time.” He added that he is happy, grateful to be out here, and racing again.
