FINALLY, SHE WILL be able to call herself an Olympian, three years after the first time she won the Trials 100. Back then, it was a marijuana suspension that kept Sha’Carri Richardson from the team. This time, nothing was going to stop the 24-year-old Texas native.
The biggest challenge the reigning world champion faced in the rounds came from her own start, which was just this side of atrocious. In heat 4, it took her several strides to overcome an initial off-balance stumble, but by mid-race her legs had moved into high-turnover, and she chewed her way past the opposition to record a 10.88 with just a 0.3 wind; that put her well ahead of the 11.01 of Tamari Davis, the 9th-placer at last year’s Worlds.
The previous three heats had revealed other potential challengers. NCAA champ McKenzie Long took heat 1 in 10.94 to Aleia Hobbs’ 10.97. Florida State’s Dajaz Defrand took 2 in 11.05, and ’22 U.S. champion Melissa Jefferson zipped 10.91 in 3 to best Jenna Prandini (11.03) and TeeTee Terry (11.07).
In the first semi, Richardson again bobbled her start, standing up too quickly and forcing herself to play catch-up. Once more, her top-end speed was nothing short of astonishing, and her 10.86 easily topped Davis (10.99). The second semi surprised many, as both Long and Defrand got out horribly, and Tamara Clark (11.09) and Candace Hill (11.10) grabbed the only two tickets to the final. Semi 3 saw Jefferson hit 10.87 ahead of Hobbs (10.99) and Terry (11.04).
In lane 6 for the final, it seemed that Richardson would be the likely winner no matter how bad her start, but a truly fast time would demand at least a decent blast-off from the blocks. And that’s what she got—her best start of the weekend, though it will never end up in a “how-to” video. She reeled in Davis (lane 7) within 30-meters, but needed another 40 to pull past Jefferson in 5.
She leaned backward at the line to claim the win in a world-leading 10.71, wind 0.8. Jefferson claimed 2nd in a PR 10.80, and Terry grabbed the final Paris berth with her 10.89 out of lane 2. Davis ran 4th in 10.91, followed by Hobbs (10.93) and Clark (10.95). Richardson, Jefferson and Terry, all training partners under coach Dennis Mitchell, joined in an emotional embrace after the finish.
“We knew this moment could be possible as long as we put our minds, our bodies, our spirits into it,” said Richardson. “We got the job done today.”
She added, “Going into the Games, I definitely don’t put a time on myself. I just know that if I execute and run the race that I’ve prepared for, the time comes with it. I’m just excited to go out there and run a well-executed race.”
WOMEN’S 100 RESULTS
FINAL (June 22; wind +0.8)
1. Sha’Carri Richardson (Nik) 10.71 (WL, AL);
2. Melissa Jefferson (Nik) 10.80;
3. TeeTee Terry (Nik) 10.89;
4. Tamari Davis (adi) 10.91;
5. Aleia Hobbs (adi) 10.93;
6. Tamara Clark (adi) 10.95;
7. Candace Hill (Asics) 11.00;
8. Jenna Prandini (Pum) 11.02;
9. Anavia Battle (adi) 11.12.
HEATS (June 21)
I(0.4)–1. McKenzie Long (adi) 10.94; 2. Hobbs 10.97; 3. Morolake Akinosun (adi) 11.04; 4. Celera Barnes (adi) 11.06; 5. Abby Steiner (Pum) 11.13; 6. English Gardner (Nik) 11.17; 7. Alexis Brown (LenR) 11.29; 8. Adriana Tatum (AzSt) 11.53; 9. Jaslyn Gardner (BYU) 11.56.
II(3.1)–1. Dajaz Defrand (FlSt) 11.05; 2. Mikiah Brisco (adi) 11.07; 3. Kennedy Blackmon (unat) 11.07; 4. Jadyn Mays (Or) 11.07; 5. Jada Baylark (unat) 11.12; 6. Taylor Anderson (Tracks/GSTC) 11.19; 7. Caisja Chandler (unat) 11.20;… fs—Kiley Robbins (Wi).
III(0.9)–1. Jefferson 10.91; 2. Prandini 11.03; 3. Terry 11.07; 4. Hill 11.11; 5. Javianne Oliver (unat) 11.15; 6. Alyssa Colbert (TxT) 11.18; 7. Battle 11.19; 8. Shannon Ray (adi) 11.31; 9. Melicia Mouzzon (ECar) 11.45.
IV(0.3)–1. Richardson 10.88; 2. Davis 11.01; 3. Clark 11.05; 4. Semira Killebrew (TxAM) 11.20; 5. Jassani Carter (USC) 11.21; 6. Cambrea Sturgis (adi) 11.34; 7. Nya Bussey (OhSt) 11.38; 8. Jahniya Bowers (Ms) 11.44; 9. Ariane Linton (Ar) 11.52.
SEMIS (June 22)
I(0.4)–1. Richardson 10.86; 2. Davis 10.99; 3. Battle 11.09; 4. Prandini 11.09; 5. Barnes 11.12; 6. Blackmon 11.26; 7. Oliver 11.31; 8. Sturgis 11.35; 9. Ray 11.37.
II(0.0)–1. Clark 11.09; 2. Hill 11.10; 3. Akinosun 11.14; 4. Long 11.15; 5. Defrand 11.26; 6. Colbert 11.28; 7. Killebrew 11.31; 8. Gardner 11.31; 9. Brown 11.47.
III(-0.2)–1. Jefferson 10.87; 2. Hobbs 10.99; 3. Terry 11.04; 4. Mays 11.20; 5. Brisco 11.24; 6. Baylark 11.29; 7. Carter 11.29; 8. Chandler 11.42; 9. Anderson 11.43.
