Sha'Carri Richardson books spot at Paris Olympics with world-leading 10.71 at US trials

By Sports Desk June 23, 2024

In a stunning display of speed and focus, World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson secured her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the 100m at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday night. With a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds, Richardson dominated the competition, cementing her status as an early favourite for Olympic gold.

Richardson's final at Hayward Field started with an intense stare-down, a marked departure from her exuberant salutes to the crowd in earlier heats. This newfound focus paid off spectacularly, as Richardson blazed down the track to clinch victory and her first Olympic berth.

Joining her on the plane to Paris are training partners Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, who finished second and third with times of 10.80 and 10.89 seconds, respectively. Jefferson's time was a lifetime best.

This victory marks a significant milestone in Richardson's career, especially after the disappointment of missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a suspension for marijuana use. She acknowledged the struggles she has faced, saying, "Everything I've been through is everything I have been through to be in this moment right now. There's nothing I've been through that hasn't designed me to sit right here in front of you to answer this question."

Richardson's resurgence has been marked by notable achievements, including winning the 100m at the world championships in Budapest last summer with a personal best of 10.65 seconds. She also anchored the US 4x100 relay team to victory.

Richardson's next goal is to qualify for the 200m. She enters the event with the third-fastest qualifying time, behind Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas and 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long. The first-round heats for the women's 200m are scheduled for Thursday.

Before Richardson's electrifying performance, Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion at 100m, ran his preliminary heat in 9.92 seconds, the fastest time in the first round of men's qualifying. Christian Coleman also advanced winning his heat in 9.99 while Fred Kerley ran 10.02 to also advance.

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  • “I went to the hills and cried for two weeks after that”- Blake reflects on dark days after devastating hamstring injury in 2014 “I went to the hills and cried for two weeks after that”- Blake reflects on dark days after devastating hamstring injury in 2014

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    “I finally talked to God and said listen, you are the second fastest man on the planet. What are you doing?”

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    Fast forward 10 years later, Blake, now 34, just had a season to forget on the track by his standards.

    He had a 100m season’s best of 10.16 done in May and failed to make Jamaica’s team to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Nagging injuries was the main contributor to his lack of success last season according to Blake, with even the injury suffered back in 2014 still affecting him to this day.

    “I still struggle with a lot of injuries,” he said.

    “Last year, I tried to change up my routine being more specific in my lifting and my running and I got some aches and pains, even from my previous injury when my muscle came off my bone and they had to re-attach it with aluminum so it’s a bit rigid. It bothers me a lot,” he added.

    In a lot of situations with athletes who suffer major injuries, they are able to put out full effort in training but once they get into the competition, a metal block affects their performance due to a fear of getting hurt again.

    Blake says this has also affected him since the injuries.

    “It has. Training with Glen Mills, before I left, he said to me ‘Yohan, if you’re going out there with that mindset, it’s better you stop,’” he said.

    “From that, I changed my routine. You’re still going to pick up niggles along the way and the wear and tear of the body. Usain said ‘Yohan, when you reach a certain age you’re going to feel this.’ A lot of times when I was training with Usain, he started to feel some pain and everything and he’d tell me I’d feel some of these pains and I shrugged it off because I was young and I finally understand what he meant,” he added.

    As previously stated, athletes who have suffered the injuries he’s suffered usually don’t last as long in the sport as he has.

    With all the injuries, Blake still holds the title of second fastest man to ever walk this earth.

    “Thank God for what I have achieved because not many persons in the world can say they have achieved what I have achieved,” he said.

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