Sha’Carri Richardson Runs World-Leading 10.71 PB at 2023 US Championships
By Jonathan Gault
EUGENE, Ore. – What a difference a year makes.
At the 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships, Sha’Carri Richardson showed up as one of the favorites to make the World Championship team in the 100 meters but was eliminated after running just 11.31 seconds in her first-round heat – more than half a second off her personal best.
One year later at the 2023 US championships, Richardson made a statement in her first-round heat on the same Hayward Field track on Thursday, blasting to the win in 10.71 seconds, the fastest time in the world in 2023. While the weather (87 degrees and sunny) was near-perfect for sprinting, conditions were still for Richardson’s heat (+0.1 wind) meaning she has the potential to go even faster in the semis and final.
Sha’Carri Richardson on way to 10.71 100m (Kevin Morris photo)
The time was a personal best for Richardson and the fastest time by an American woman since Carmelita Jeter ran 10.70 in 2011. It moves Richardson into a tie with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson for #6 on the world all-time list.
The semifinals and final will be held on Friday night.
While Richardson, 23, has produced some brilliant performances since bursting onto the scene with her 10.75 collegiate record at the 2019 NCAA meet, she has also dealt with a number of high-profile missteps, notably her positive test for marijuana at the 2021 Olympic Trials and poor performance at 2022 USAs.
So far in 2023, Richardson has not put a foot wrong. On April 8, she ran a wind-aided 10.57 at the Miramar Invitational, the fourth-fastest all-conditions time ever. She has won all three of her 100m finals this season, including her first career Diamond League victory in Doha on May 5.
After that race, Richardson told NBC Sports, “I found my peace back on the track, and I’m not letting anything or anybody take that anymore.”
Richardson declined to speak to media after Thursday’s race. USATF said that Richardson asked not to speak with media until Sunday, the final day of the meet.
