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Sha'Carri Richardson's 'mind-blowing' flop stuns athletics world

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured right, Sha'Carri Richardson labours to a fifth-placed finish in her 100m heat at the US championships.
Sha'Carri Richardson's hopes of making USA's 100m sprint team for the world championships were dashed in a shock result. Pic: Getty/Twitter

American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson has bombed out of the 100m event at the US championships, in a result that has left the athletics world in disbelief.

The American fan favourite's world championships hopes were ended at the national meet in Oregon after she laboured to a fifth-placed finish in her heat.

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Richardson got off to a rough start and never fully recovered as she missed out on a place in the semi-finals and ultimately, a spot in America's 100m sprint team for the world championships.

The 22-year-old was in no mood to chat post-race, jogging swiftly past gathered reporters after finishing fifth in her heat in 11.31 seconds.

It was a far cry from the speedy, 10.85-second performance she produced in New York earlier this month and a second-placed finish behind two-time Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah in May.

Richardson was among the favourites in the event, after dominating at the US Olympic trials a year ago, only to see her ticket to Tokyo evaporate, following a positive cannabis test.

Aleia Hobbs, a Tokyo relay silver medallist, posted the fastest time in the women's heats (10.88), but it was Richardson's stunning flop that proved the biggest shock for athletics fans.

Richardson has a chance to redeem herself as she is expected to feature in the 200m event.

Fred Kerley sets season-best time in men's 100m sprint

Tokyo silver medallist Fred Kerley produced a world-leading 9.83 sec in the men's 100 metres heats while world champion Christian Coleman, who returned to action in January after serving an 18-month suspension for breaching anti-doping whereabouts rules, won his heat in 10.08. Trayvon Bromell clinched his in 10.10.

"I feel pretty decent. I feel like there's definitely a lot I can still continue to build off of," said Coleman "I feel pretty good for a prelim and so I'm pretty excited to try to put it all together tomorrow."

The top three finishers in Eugene, who meet certain qualifying standards, and reigning global title-holders advance to the first world championships.

Tokyo silver medallist Fred Kerley's time of 9.83 secs in the 100m sprint is the fastest in the world this season. Pic: Getty
Tokyo silver medallist Fred Kerley's time of 9.83 secs in the 100m sprint is the fastest in the world this season. Pic: Getty

A late surge propelled 800m world champion Donavan Brazier to a win in his heat in a time of 1:46.49, his best performance of the season.

Twice world bronze medallist Ajee Wilson posted the quickest time in the women's heats with 2:00.37, while 20-year-old Tokyo gold medal winner Athing Mu and bronze medallist Raevyn Rogers also advanced.

In the women's 400m hurdles, world record holder and Tokyo gold winner Sydney McLaughlin led all the way to win her heat handily in 54.11, with reigning world champion Dalilah Muhammad missing out due to injury.

with agencies

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