Sha’Carri Richardson Talks About Her Stunning Upset
Well, I gotta be honest. It took me a few days to grapple with the shocking loss of Olympic hopeful Sha'Carri Richardson, Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic Track and Field Meet. I had some business to take care of that day, but I remember rushing home, because I didn't want to miss the highly anticipated race. The Richardson's showdown against the Tokyo Olympic podium, was the race everyone tuned-in to see. As Sports Illustrated put it, the 100-meter race answered the big "what if," to how things would've gone down had Richardson not been suspended. We got our answer! The same women who won in Tokyo, won again!
There is no other way to put it....it was an absolutely stunning blowout! Poor Sha'Carri came it dead last in her first competitive 100-meter race since missing out on the Olympics. Three-time gold medalist, Elaine Thompson-Herah got even closer to breaking Flo-Jo's record (10.49) with easily winning the race with a time of 10.54! Fellow Jamaican teammates Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on her heels with a time of 10.73 and taking third was Shericka Jackson clocking a 10.76. I got one word for those sista's...Amazing!
The 21-year old Richardson suffered a major upset, coming in last with a time of 11.14. Me personally, I had mixed feelings. I really felt bad for her, but she kinda had it coming. Sha'Carri is young. When we are young and talented, we tend to get arrogant. She will have to learn to eat a little humble pie. She is going to have to stop running her mouth and try to keep her social media chatter down to a minimum. On the other hand, I do believe if she works hard, puts her focus on staying healthy and training, we will see her at the next Olympic Games. I am pulling for her and can't wait to see her reach the top of women's track and field in the future.
Saturday's 2021 Prefontaine Classic in Oregon was an overall star-studded event. There is no doubt about it. American track Diva's Allyson Felix and Gabby Thomas, and Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji met at the line in the women's 200-meter. Kambundji pulled-off a narrow win over Thomas with a time of 22.06. The American bronze medalist clocked in at 22.11. Felix had nothing to prove as the most decorated athlete in track and field history. The 11-time Olympic medalist and 13-time World Champion, came in eight place with a time of 22.60. It was another awesome race and all of the women should be proud of their performance.