AT 23 Sha’Carri Richardson is a household name, an international phenomenon on social media, an NCAA champion, a fashion stylist. What she was not was a national champion or a member of a national team.
So when she got left in the blocks in the 100 final on a cool evening, would this trend continue? At 40m, 3-years-her-junior Tamari Davis, just to her left, still had open ground on her, while Tamara Clark and Brittany Brown, in the lanes to her right, were right with her, all chasing Davis.
In the next few meters, the smooth, efficient power of Richardson took over, and she sailed past Davis to victory, her first championship, her first national team.
In what has become her take-no-prisoners verbal style, she said afterward, “I’m here to say, ‘I’m not back, I’m better,’” then wheeled away from her interviewer, the camera and the audience. The emphasis, “I’ve never been away, so I’m not back.” Pure Sha’Carri.
In the early rounds, Richardson had looked dominant. On Thursday her 10.71 PR in round I was a world leader — and strengthened her standing as No. 4 American all-time — a full quarter of a second ahead of Brown, who =PRed in 2nd.
In the final Brown then improved to 10.90 for 2nd, ahead of the fading Davis. Brown, who at 28 had never made a national team in the 100, said, “It feels good. I’m basking in this moment.”
Clark fell back to 4th, inches ahead of the defending champion, Melissa Jefferson, while in 7th was the youngest finalist, the 17-year-old Mia Brahe-Pedersen, who 6 weeks earlier had won the Oregon HS title on this track.
“I’ve never really believed in myself,” Brahe-Pedersen said. “This is a big milestone for me.”
A second prep sprinter, Shawnti Jackson, was also in the meet. She and MBP both ran 11.05s in the heats (Jackson’s windy), but Jackson was eliminated in the semis.
Richardson’s 10.71 did not last long as yearly world leader as Shericka Jackson ran 10.65 at the Jamaican Championships. Richardson defeated 200 world champ Jackson 10.76–10.85 at Doha in May and has now run 7 legal sub-10.80s.
“I stand here with you again,” she said to NBC’s Lewis Johnson, “and I’m ready physically and emotionally.”
WOMEN’S 100 RESULTS
FINAL (July 07; wind +0.7)
1. Sha’Carri Richardson (Nik) 10.82;
2. Brittany Brown (adi) 10.90;
3. Tamari Davis (adi) 10.99;
4. Tamara Clark (adi) 11.03;
5. Melissa Jefferson (Nik) 11.03;
6. TeeTee Terry (Nik) 11.05;
7. Mia Brahe-Pedersen (Nik) 11.08 (x, =9 HS);
8. Jacious Sears (Tn) 11.12.
(lanes: 1. Sears; 2. Terry; 3. Davis; 4. Richardson; 5. Clark; 6. Brown; 7. Jefferson; 8. Brahe-Pedersen)
(RT: 0.151 Jefferson; 0.168 Sears; 0.176 Brahe-Pedersen; 0.181 Richardson; 0.182 Clark; 0.192 Davis; 0.198 Terry; 0.206 Brown)
HEATS (July 06)
I(0.1)–1. Richardson 10.71 (WL, AL) (=6 x W; 4, =9 A);
2. Brown 10.96;
3. Brahe-Pedersen 11.05 (x, 8 HS);
4. Kayla White (Nik) 11.10; 5. Jenna Prandini (Pum) 11.14; 6. Caisja Chandler (USC) 11.24; 7. Candace Hill (Asics) 11.24; 8. Amira Young (Mn) 11.39; 9. Teahna Daniels (Nik) 11.55.
II(-1.2)–1. Jefferson 11.10; 2. Aleia Hobbs (adi) 11.11; 3. Ezinne Abba (Tx) 11.15; 4. Maia McCoy (unat) 11.22; 5. Mikiah Brisco (adi) 11.25; 6. Marybeth Sant Price (unat) 11.29; 7. Jadyn Mays (Or) 11.35; 8. Javianne Oliver (Nik) 11.39.
III(0.2)–1. Tamara Clark (adiTBB) 11.02; 2. Davis 11.06; 3. Terry 11.08; 4. Sears 11.08; 5. Destiny Smith-Barnett (DPillar) 11.23; 6. Semira Killebrew (TxAM) 11.44; 7. Taylor Anderson (TSGSTC) 11.47; 8. Celera Barnes (adi) 12.20.
IV(2.1)–1. Morolake Akinosun (adi) 11.03w;
2. Shawnti Jackson (RunUX) 11.05w (a-c: x, =9 HS);
3. English Gardner (Nik) 11.12w; 4. Kennedy Blackmon (Ok) 11.13w; 5. Dajaz Defrand (FlSt) 11.20w; 6. Cambrea Sturgis (adi) 11.22w; 7. Jada Baylark (unat) 11.22w; 8. Shannon Ray (adi) 11.24w.
SEMIS (July 07)
I(0.7)–1. Richardson 10.75; 2. Brown 11.00; 3. Jefferson 11.08; 4. Sears 11.08; 5. Brahe-Pedersen 11.09; 6. Abba 11.23; 7. Hobbs 11.25;… dnc—Prandini.
II(0.4)–1. Davis 10.96; 2. Clark 10.98; 3. Terry 11.07; 4. White 11.17; 5. Jackson 11.18; 6. Akinosun 11.19; 7. Blackmon 11.25; 8. Gardner 11.42.