World Athletics Championships 2023: Sha'Carri Richardson saunters through to women's 200m semis
The Sha'Carri show continues in Budapest as the new 100m world champion wins her heat to ease into the 200m semi-finals. Reigning world champion Shericka Jackson is also through as the race for the world 200m title heats up.
Athletics
If it wasn't already, this may just be becoming the World Championships of Sha'Carri Richardson.
The American already has one world title to her name after her stunning victory in the 100m on Monday (21 August), and now she has the chance to consolidate her dominance with victory in the 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Running in heat 2 of the 200m on Wednesday (23 August), Richardson teased to victory in 22.16 seconds- the fastest time of the heats - beating the vastly experienced Marie-Josee Ta Lou to the line to secure her place in Thursday's semi-finals.
But if the 23-year-old wants to claim the double in Budapest she will need to overcome the formidable challenge of Jamaica's defending 200m world champion Shericka Jackson - the fastest female 200m runner alive today - who also won her heat in a time of 22.51.
Jackson's toned-down demeanour - the maroon bob she sported in the 100m replaced by a more muted black hairstyle for today's race - was in stark contrast to Richardson's typically flamboyant style that included her now signature long nails.
Perhaps it reflects a more serious tone for Jackson heading into a competition in which she is the presumptive favourite having set a time of 21.45 seconds at last year's world championships - the second fastest in history after Florence Griffith-Joyner 21.34 world record set all the way back in 1988.
After the disappointment of winning silver in the 100m - in an event in which she had the world lead coming into the championships - much will be expected of the Jamaican over the half-lap distance.
But Jackson and Richardson aren't the only runners capable of winning one of the most exciting events of these World Athletics Championships. St. Lucia's Julien Alfred dominated her heat to finish in a time of 22.31, while the USA's Gabby Thomas was victorious in heat 5 in a time of 22.26 and Great Britain's Doha 2019 world gold medallist Dina Asher-Smith also showed strong form, setting a time of 22.46 to win her semi.
One thing's for sure, after the fireworks of the 100m, you won't want to miss this event.
- World Athletics Championships 2023: All track and field and road race results and medals table
- Track and field World Athletics Championships 2023: Day-by-day highlights guide
- World Athletics Championships 2023 preview: Full schedule and how to watch
- World Athletics Championships 2023: Women's 200m preview schedule and how to watch
Sha'Carri Richardson points to the sky before her 200m heat at the World Athletics Championships