What do you think of Sha’Carri’s recent performances so far this track and field season?
Is Sha’Carri Richardson a threat to the Big 3 of Sharika Jackson, Elain Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce?
Is the women’s 100 meter shaping up to be another Jamaica versus the US battle?
Love her or hate her, Sha’Carri Richardson definitely helps with the popularity of Track and Field. The world first gained the attention of the infamous and controversial Sha’Carri Richardson in 2019 when she was able to run a Collegiate Record and World Under Twenty Record of 10.75 seconds to win the women’s 100 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The then Louisiana State University athlete was poised to do great things and had a fierce personality similar to Gwen Torrence of the United States who competed mainly in the 100 meters and 200 meters during the late 80s to the late 90s.
After Richardson’s performance at the NCAA Championships, she was offered a contract from Nike company to begin her professional career. One would think that Richardson would have ended the season as a collegiate athlete, but she decided not to do that, as she decided to make her professional debut at the Prefontaine Classic less than a month later after breaking former LSU Tiger Dawn Sowell’s 1989 Collegiate Record in the 100 meters of 10.78seconds.
At the Prefontaine Classic, Sha’Carri Richardson ran 11.15 seconds to finish fourth.
Despite this performance, she was determined to participate in the 100 meters at the US Championships held in Des Moines, Iowa. Most fans expected her to make the team for the Doha World Championships, but Richardson’s effort proved futile as she finished eighth in the Final of the 100 meters with 11.72 seconds to end her season.
One would think that Richardson would have been tired after an extensive collegiate season and, as a junior athlete, her body was not used to running under so much pressure. With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Sha’Carri ran a few races over the 60 meters, 100 meters, 150 meters, 200 meters, and even 300 meters. All to aid in the preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
For the 2021 Olympic year Richardson started off the season on fire as she ran her current 100 meters Personal Best of 10.72 seconds at the Miramar Invitational in early April. This had fans putting her as the favorite for the Olympic title without seeing the likes of Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Eliane Thompson-Herah.
After this performance at the Miramar Invitational Richardson continued to remain consistent as she ran two 100 meters races at the USATF Golden Games with times of 10.74 seconds and 10.77 seconds. Again, showing that she was the one to beat at that time. But before competing at the US Olympic Trials Sha’Carri Richardson met Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Dina Asher-Smith at the Muller Grand Prix. The conditions at the meet were terrible with rainwater on the track. In the Final of the 100 meters, Richardson placed second with 11.44 seconds as she would go off to the US Olympic Trials. Sha’Carri Richardson entered the 100 meters at the US Olympic Trials as the clear favorite to win. With her colorful hair, flamboyant personality, and fast times being placed by her on the track, it was almost certain that she would have run even faster than she was running all season. In the Heats of the 100 meters, she ran 10.84 seconds to lead the qualifiers into the Semi-Final round. In the Semi-Finals Richardson turned things up by running a wind-aided 10.64 seconds to continue her lead throughout the competition. In the Final of the 100 meters despite having a poor start Richardson relied on her top-end speed and won the race in 10.86 seconds to book her ticket for the Tokyo Olympics. This means Sha’Carri Richardson was on a high because the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics was shaping up to be another Jamaica versus the US battle.
Fans were quite excited and eager to see this matchup between the Jamaican and American women. After all the excitement surrounding both countries, it was revealed almost a week after the US Olympic Trials that Sha’Carri Richardson had been tested for cannabis which she said she used to cope with her mother’s passing during the Olympic Trials.
This made her ineligible to compete at the Olympics and she was banned for a month. The Tokyo Olympic Games went on without Sha’Carri Richardson while Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson swept the medals in the 100 meters just as Jamaica did at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Despite the Jamaican women dominating at the Olympics some fans thought that this performance was somewhat of a fluke because Sha’Carri Richardson was not at the Olympics. It was announced just days after the Tokyo Olympics that Richardson would have faced the Jamaican trio of Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce, and Jackson over the 100 meters at the Prefontaine Classic. This race went down as one of the most anticipated women’s 100 meters in history. As Sha’Carri Richardson even got a commercial from Nike to promote the race.
The day came for all nine women to meet at the Prefontaine Classic, Richardson was sandwiched between Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah. All ladies looked confident as they got into their blocks for the start of the race. The gun struck and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce got the best start as Elaine Thompson-Herah passed her. Shericka Jackson was also there, and Sha’Carri Richardson was nowhere to be found. In the end, Elaine Thompson-Herah crossed the line with the second fastest time ever of 10.54 seconds to win. While Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran 10.73 seconds for second and Shericka Jackson in third with 10.76 seconds. Sha’Carri Richardson came ninth in that race with a less-than-credible 11.14 seconds.
Fans began doubting Richardson after this performance as she fumbled under pressure. Even though she had a very horrific 2021 season, Richardson still had her sights on making the US World Championship team for Eugene. Having run 10.85 seconds to place second in the 100 meters at the New York Grand Prix in early June and ran 22.38 seconds in the 200 meters to prove herself that she could make that team.
At the US Championships Richardson attempted both the 100 meters and 200 meters but she did not make the team in both events. Again, making fans question if she can make a major championship team. Although she did not make the US team Richardson continued to run more than 100 meters on the international circuit with her best time being 10.93 seconds at the Brussels Diamond League.
The 2023 season has started off extremely well for Sha’Carri Richardson. She ran a wind-aided 10.57 seconds 100 meters to win at the Marimar Invitational and followed up that win by running a Meeting Record of 10.76 seconds to win ahead of Shericka Jackson at the Doha Diamond League in early May. One week later Richardson continued her consistency by winning the 200 meters at the Kip Kenio Classic with 22.07 seconds after celebrating 30 meters before the finish line.
Sha’Carri Richardson seems to be more focused on Track and Field and less controversial as she hopes to add her name to the history books. With Richardson being this consistent, fans are questioning:
Is she a threat to the Big 3 of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Elaine Thompson-Herah?
Will Sha’Carri Richardson even make the US team?
What are your thoughts and Sha’Carri Richardson’s chances against the Big 3 this season?
Please, let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Check out this video on The Big 3 In 2023 of Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, And Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Stay tuned to Jire Caribbean sports as we bring you all the actions from the 2023 track and field season.