'She’s not my number one'- USATF coach reveals surprising favorite over Sha’Carri Richardson

A USATF coach has sparked controversy by revealing an unexpected top choice for the women’s 4x100m relay star.

World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson cemented her place in track and field history with a stunning anchor leg in the women’s 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics, securing Team USA a gold medal in one of the most dramatic races of the event.

Yet, three months later, USATF head coach Mechelle Freeman has revealed that Richardson was not her top-ranked relay runner, a revelation that has sparked intrigue in the athletics community.

Freeman’s comments came during a recent appearance on the Ready Set Go podcast, hosted by former Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green.

While the spotlight often shines on Richardson for her headline-grabbing performances, the coach shed light on the unsung hero of Team USA’s relay success: Twanisha “TeeTee” Terry.

“I mean, TeeTee Terry has been on all three of our gold medal-winning relays, you know, for the last three years,” Freeman said, praising Terry’s remarkable consistency and versatility.

“She’s a utility runner, someone you could depend on the relay. You can communicate what you need from her and she can apply it and get the job done. You know, that’s really great about TeeTee.”

Terry, a 25-year-old sprinter, has quietly built a formidable reputation as Team USA’s go-to runner in high-pressure moments.

While Richardson’s explosive anchor leg dazzled fans in Paris, Freeman emphasized Terry’s pivotal role in ensuring the team’s overall synchronization and composure under stress.

Describing Terry’s exceptional ability to stay calm under pressure, Freeman said, “If plan A doesn’t go right, you have to go to plan B, she doesn’t. She stays poised, she still goes through the motions of what her role is and doesn’t bat an eye.”

The Paris 4x100m final highlighted both Terry’s resilience and Richardson’s finishing brilliance. The relay team—comprising Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson—showed impeccable teamwork, despite a few behind-the-scenes hurdles.

Terry herself later acknowledged a slight mishap during the baton exchange between her and Thomas.

“You know, me and Gabby had a mishap on our exchange, and I feel like Sha’Carri did what she needed to do to stay poised and patient when it came to her leg,” Terry said post-race.

Such moments underscored Terry’s reliability as the team’s backbone, a point Freeman repeatedly stressed during the podcast.

“That’s why they were still able to get that pass off because no one’s panicking,” Freeman explained.

“You still go through what you need to do and you can depend on her to understand how to do that in that pressure moment. TeeTee knows how to handle pressure.”

Terry’s composure not only steadied her teammates but also set the stage for Richardson to unleash her electrifying speed on the final leg, leaving rivals trailing in her wake.

Despite the challenges, the squad’s synergy earned them a much-deserved gold medal, reinforcing the depth of talent in American track and field.

“Watching a teammate like Terry, forever confident and ready to roll on the track, is also something that boosts the mentality of her teammates."