USA Track and Field Championships 2023: Gabby Thomas sets 200m world lead to grab title ahead of Sha'Carri Richardson
Thomas ran a 21.60 to take the U.S. title Sunday (9 July) in Eugene
Athletics
Sha’Carri Richardson came up just short of a second U.S. title Sunday (9 July) at the 2023 U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, finishing second behind Tokyo 2020 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas in the women's 200m final.
Thomas sprinted to a 21.60 in the final, a personal best, meeting record and the fastest time of 2023. Her world lead comes just hours after reigning 200m World champion Shericka Jackson clocked a 21.71 that at the time was the fastest of the season.
Richardson's 21.94 personal best was good for second, while Kayla White's 22.01, another personal best, was third.
"It felt really good to reclaim my title," said Thomas on U.S. broadcaster NBC. "Coming here last year and being injured was really heart-breaking for me, I was really ready this year. I was hungry, I wanted it more than I think anyone."
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 on Saturday (8 July).
"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: Not back, 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.