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Sha’Carri Richardson sprinted to a new personal best and a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds at the USATF Championships on Thursday. She opened the meet in Eugene, OR with a statement. She is now the sixth-fastest athlete of all time with that performance at Hayward Field. The world record is 10.49 by Florence Griffith-Joyner from 1988 — 35 years ago. Richardson’s previous best was 10.74 which she ran in Walnut, CA in 2021. Then she got distracted by media and spectators turning her races into dramatic events. Things have since changed.
Watch Sha’Carri Richardson run a 10.71 WORLD LEADING 100m in the PRELIMS of the USATF Championships. She PUT SOME STANK on it. pic.twitter.com/95Nr1jZi9y
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 6, 2023
Richardson will be running the semifinals on Friday night. She just may improve upon her performance before the championships are over.
Richardson, who was distracted by drama, media and fans and detractors on social media for nearly three years, appears to have made peace with her notoriety. Since doing so, she has consistently run well. She told the media “I found my peace back on the track, and I’m not letting anything or anybody take that anymore.”
The 23-year-old American improved on the best time of 2023, which was 10.73 as set by the Ivorian Marie-Josée Ta Lou at the Bislett Games on June 15.
