Sha'Carri Richardson blazes historic 10.72 over 100m at Miramar Invitational
The 21-year-old American sprinter became the 6th fastest woman in history after lighting up athletics meet in Florida.
Athletics
Sha'Carri Richardson says she's here to change the game and a 10.72-second 100m at the 2021 Miramar Invitational athletics meet in Miami backs up her big talk.
Of all the stars at the Florida meet -including Grant Holloway, Elaine Thompson, and Justin Gatlin - hers shone brightest.
"I am who I say I am," she shouted at the finishing line, pumped up after clocking the 6th fastest 100m ever and setting a brand new world leading time just a few short months out from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
And she did all that after coming out of the blocks last, streaking past USA teammate Javianne Oliver (11.07s) and Jamaica's Natallah Whyte (11.16) in a searing finish.
Richardson is a phenomenon.
"I am getting ready to change the game and I am as good as I say I am," the 2019 NCAA champion has said on social media and after clocking the fastest time in the past five years she couldn't contain herself.
"It's something I haven't really expected, something the world hasn't been expecting," she said post-race.
"I just feel like it's time to bring the respect that track and field deserves and I want people to know that I am going to use my platform and my talent and who I am to distribute that for track and field for the world."
This is where Richardson now stands on the all-time list:
- 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988)
- 10.64 Carmelita Jeter (2009)
- 10.65 Marion Jones (1998)
- 10.70 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2012)
- 10.70 Elaine Thompson (2016)
- 10.72 Sha'Carri Richardson (2021)
"What does 10.72 at this time say about your season?" she was asked afterwards:
"That my season is going to be unbelievable," Richardson laughed.
Holloway hurtles to another victory
Grant Holloway broke the 110m hurdles world record in Madrid in February 2021, and was on his game again in Miami, winning the race to open his season the right way.
Holloway clocked 13.04s but with a 2.2 m/s wind, a wind that had been gusting as his as 5.5 m/s during the day, bettering rival Daniel Roberts who recorded an 11.30 time.
Roberts beat Holloway in the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
Trinidad's Ruebin Walters finished third on 13.37.
"It's a season opener so I'm ecstatic," Holloway said post-race, "we'll see what we did wrong, we have time to analyse this week, correct it, stay in that consistent 13.0, 13.1, and then get ready for trials, that's the major thing."
Meanwhile in the women's 100m hurdles Doha silver medallist Kendra Harrison was in control winning with a time of 12.54.
Kyree King and Justin Gatlin 0.01s apart
In the men's 100m Kyree King pipped Justin Gatlin by 0.01 of a second, King went 9.98 to Gatlin's 9.99.
39 years old and still running 100m in under 10 seconds: Justin Gatlin.
And Sha'Carri Richardson wasn't the only revelation in Miami, 19-year-old Justin Robinson ran a 45.23 400m to beat a professional field all around him.
The Arizona State prodigy left second-placed Will London in his dust over two seconds behind on 45.31 and Kahmari Montgomery behind him on 45.39.
Elsewhere 22-year-old Kenny Bednarek was the only one to go under 20 seconds in the men's 200m, clocking 19.65 - a career best - but the +4.0 wind was way over the limit.
Elaine Thompson finishes 4th in 200
In the women's 200 Jenna Prandini took top spot in 22.29s with Brittany Brown second (22.39) and Candace Hill third (22.43).
Reigning 100 and 200m Olympic champion Elaine Thompson finished in fourth place clocking 22.44.
While in the 800 metre race Ajee Wilson won in 2:00.57, with Jamaican Natoya Goule taking second in 2:00.92.