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The American sprint sensation ran the fastest time of the year as she secured her ticket to the World Championships in emphatic style
Moments after she was introduced on the starting line, Sha’Carri Richardson reached to her head, pulled her trademark orange wig off and flung it onto the ground behind her.
Then, she took the next step on the long road to proving she’s the real deal.
America’s most colourful sprint star won the 100m title in 10.82 seconds at the US championships on Friday night, marking a high point that comes two years after her national title was stripped because of a doping violation.
After her victory, she conceded in a TV interview that she wasn’t ready for the moment at the 2021 Olympic Trials, where, shortly after her victory, she tested positive for using marijuana.
“Now, I stand here with you again and I’m ready, mentally, physically and emotionally,” said the 23-year-old, who ran in her natural black braids with a star shaved into the right side of her hairdo. “I’m here to say, ‘I’m not back, I’m better.’”
She’ll have a chance to put a stamp on that next month at World Championships, which will mark her first major international meet. Earning America’s second and third spots in the event were Brittany Brown (10.90) and Tamari Davis (10.99).
Moments after Richardson’s win, Cravont Charleston pulled an upset in the men’s 100, finishing in 9.95 to edge 2019 world champion Christian Coleman by .01. It was the 25-year-old Charleston’s first final in a major meet and he made the best of it.
“To win,” Charleston said when asked what his goal is for his first world championships. “Of course, to win. That’s the goal. Always to win.”
Noah Lyles finished third, only four days after getting over a bout of Covid. He’ll go for a double at Worlds, his spot in his signature event, the 200, already assured because he is the defending world champion.
“I had the dream I could make that double,” Lyles said.
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