Sha’Carri Richardson earned her spot in the Paris Olympics, winning the 100-meter final in a season-best 10.71 seconds on Saturday at U.S. track trials.
She was .09 seconds ahead of training partner Melissa Jefferson, the 2022 U.S. champion. Another sprinter, Twanisha Terry, finished third and also earned a spot on the women’s 100-meter team.
“I feel honored,” Richardson said. “I feel every chapter I’ve been through in my life prepared me for this moment.”
A few seconds after her line-crossing celebration, she was down on a knee, clearly caught up in emotion.
“The emotion was just joy because of the hard work I put in, not just physically on the track, but mentally and emotionally to grow into the mature young lady I am today,” she said.
In the first two rounds of women’s 100 qualifying, Richardson didn’t come close to executing her start how she wanted. She wobbled out of the blocks with her right shoe untied on Friday, but still rallied from last place to win her preliminary heat in 10.88 seconds. Her semifinal start was also sluggish, but she reeled in the rest of the field again to win in 10.86 seconds.
Clearly, Richardson’s mediocre start didn’t leave her far behind for Saturday’s final.
A win in France would place an Olympic gold next to the gold medal Richardson won at the world championships last year, which made her the sprinter to watch heading into 2024.