USA Track and Field Championships 2023: Sha'Carri Richardson storms to 21.61 in the first round of the women's 200m
On Friday, the 23-year-old won the women's 100m and earned a ticket to next month's World Championships
Athletics
Sha’Carri Richardson has been a woman on a mission at the 2023 U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Her impressive performances at the event continued Saturday (8 July) during the opening round heats of the women's 200m, where the 23-year-old put up the fastest time across all four heats, a 21.61.
Running in the third heat, Tamara Clark, who was fourth in the women's 100m a day ago, ran a 22.05, the second fastest time of the day.
Tokyo 2020 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas returned to Hayward Field for the first time since an injury hampered her efforts at last year's nationals. Healthy in 2023, she was the winner of the first heat (22.28) and third fastest overall.
"Last time I was here, I was injured and last time I was in this mixed zone talking to you, I was crying because of my injury, but I've come a long way since then," said Thomas afterward. "I finished that season pretty strong, even just coming back from that injury that year was really healthy for me.
"This year, we've learned a lot," she continued. "I've been a little bit more conservative in my training and my race schedule, just giving me that opportunity to come out here and have the chance to win."
Richardson: "I'm not back, I'm better."
Friday evening (7 July), Richardson won the women's 100m, earning a ticket to next month's World Championships in Budapest, her first global contest.
In the 100 final, Richardson put on a show, speeding to a 10.82 time to take the title.
“I’m ready mentally, physically and emotionally, and I’m here to stay,” Richardson told U.S. broadcaster NBC afterward. "I'm not back, I'm better.
Richardson clocked a 10.71, a personal best and at the time world lead, in Thursday's (6 July) prelim heats. Jamaica's Shericka Jackson ran a 10.65 earlier in the day Friday at the Jamaican championships.
Earlier this year, Richardson, 23, ran the fourth fastest time in history in the women's 100m, a wind-aided 10.57 that is ineligible for records, at the Miranmar Invitational meet on 8 April and has consistently finished under 11 seconds this 2023 season. She ran a 10.76 time at the Doha Diamond League, which is now the fourth fastest time in the world this season.
How to watch the USA Track and Field Championships
The whole event will be streamed live on pay services USATF.TV and Peacock TV with the latter available in a number of European countries.
The main action at the USATF Championships will be screened live on CNBC for viewers in the U.S., with two-hour nightly broadcasts from Friday 7 July.