Sha’Carri Richardson, the 23-year-old sprinter from Dallas, Texas, has won the U.S. 100-meter title at the Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday. She clocked a time of 10.82 seconds, beating Brittany Brown by 0.08 seconds.
Richardson’s victory comes two years after she was suspended for one month for testing positive for THC, the chemical in cannabis, which prevented her from competing at the Tokyo Olympics. She faced criticism and disappointment after finishing last in her comeback race at the Prefontaine Classic in August.
However, Richardson proved her critics wrong by dominating the 100-meter race and sending a clear message to the sprinting world. “I’m ready mentally, physically and emotionally, and I’m here to stay,” she said after her win. “I’m not back. I’m better.”
Richardson also qualified for the 200-meter race on Saturday, where she ran a wind-assisted 21.61 seconds in the first round, tying the meet record set by Gabby Thomas in 2021. She will compete in the final on Sunday, hoping to add another title to her resume.
Richardson is one of the most promising talents in U.S. track and field, and has set her sights on reaching her first Olympics in 2024 in Paris. She has a personal best of 10.72 seconds in the 100-meter dash, which makes her the sixth-fastest woman of all time.
