She knew she had won. Anyone who doesn’t see her as the sprinter to beat at the Paris Olympics later this summer should probably think again.
Richardson sees latest milestone on that “I’m Not Back, I’m Better” Tour She became the world’s fastest woman this year with a run of 10.71 seconds in the 100 meters at the US Track Trials on Saturday and officially earned her a trip to France, where the women’s race begins on August 2.
marked the final For the third time in this meeting Richardson did not get a great start. This is the third time she finished clearly well in the competition.
She was .09 seconds ahead of training partner Melissa Jefferson, the 2022 US champion. Another sprinter from coach Dennis Mitchell’s camp, Twanisha Terry, finished third and also earned a spot on the women’s 100 meters team.
“I’m honored,” Richardson said. “I feel like every chapter of my life has prepared me for this moment.”
Seconds after her line-crossing celebration, she went down on one knee, clearly overcome with emotion.
“The feeling was just one of joy because I had worked hard to become a mature young woman, not only physically on the track, but mentally and emotionally,” she said.
It’s been quite a tough journey for the 24-year-old Texan. Three years earlier, she had also won this race (in 10.86 seconds), but her victory was stripped due to a positive marijuana test, which exposed everything from her struggle with depression to the anti-doping rule book, which There was no change. many times.
That’s when the hard work started. What emerged, Richardson said, was a better and more consistent person than the one who lit up this same Hayward Field in 2021 — his orange hair flowing, looking like this game’s breakout star.
It took almost two years for results to get back on track. But she won the national championship in 2023 and declared, “I’m not back, I’m better,” then backed it up with a world title a month later.
“I would say the message I’m sending is that no matter what happens, believe in yourself,” Richardson said, echoing similar sentiments from last year in Budapest. “You want to be strong in yourself. Stick to yourself and your hard work.”
Given the competition she will face, getting her a gold medal in Paris is a risky proposition. Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherrica Jackson and two-time defending champion Ellen Thompson-Herah have 19 Olympic medals between them – Richardson has never been to the Games – and are all scheduled to compete at next weekend’s Jamaica Trials.
Thompson-Hera’s recent injury has complicated that math. Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce has been a rarity in 2024 and Jackson is a two-time world champion in the 200m – a race in which Richardson is ranked third in the world heading into next week’s trials.
In the US, Americans are feeding off each other, and Mitchell, who was a big name in sprinting in the 1990s, accomplished a rare feat by placing all three of his best sprinters at the Olympics.
“The chances of getting all three are probably one-point-zero-zero-zero-zero-something,” Mitchell said. “But those girls didn’t care about those obstacles. They went out there and had a plan and they executed it well and they deserve everything they get.”
Given that he improved his season’s best time despite an average start and after pounding and straining his chest before the end of the race, it is hard to argue that Richardson is the favourite. When asked if he had any time in mind for the Olympics, he did not deny.
“I just know that if I race and run the race I’ve been training to prepare for, the time will come,” she said.
Next, Noah
Next, it’s Noah Lyles’ turn. Before Richardson took center stage, the reigning 100 meters world champion completed his preliminary heat in 9.92 seconds, the fastest time in the first round of men’s qualifying. He will race on Sunday for a spot at the Olympics.
Lyles, like Richardson, struggled with depression in the COVID-fueled days of the Tokyo Olympics. He made it to the Games but won a bronze medal in the 200. The last 24 months have been all about adding 100 to his repertoire. He looked in good form in his first race at Hayward this week.
“It’s been a long time,” Lyles said. “And I’m just happy, happy to be here, happy to be racing and happy to feel like myself.”
Other tickets punched
Michigan State sophomore Baldwin won the decathlon to make his first Olympic team. He will be joined by Jack Zimek, who is on his third team, and Harrison Williams, who is making his debut.
Jasmine Moore, Keturah Orji and Tori Franklin earned three spots in the women’s triple jump.
Shot put
Ryan Crouser overcame an elbow injury to win his eighth outdoor national title. He is looking for his third consecutive Olympic gold medal. Joe Kovacs, who was Crouser’s runner-up at both Olympics, finished second, and Peyton Otterdahl finished third.
Speaking about America’s strength in the event, Crouser said, “If the whole world came to the trials they would get one, maybe one, spot at the Olympics”.
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This story has been updated to correct that Zack Zimek has qualified for his third Olympic team.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
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