U.S. Track and Field star Sha’Carri Richardson was humbled on Saturday afternoon in Oregon.
In her first event since winning the 100M at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June and then not being able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics because of a failed drug test she wasn’t at her best. She finished 9th (dead last) with a time of 11.14 seconds, and even withdrew from the 200M.
Once again proving victorious in the race was Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, whose 10.54 finish places her as the second-fastest time ever.
Richardson’s first race back since missing the Olympics because of the failed drug test may have looked like a failure to some. But her spirit isn’t crushed and she seems ready to get back at it soon.
Sha’Carri’s enthusiasm didn’t wane after her loss today. She’s still confident and unbothered. pic.twitter.com/F4ecIvCksH
— The Shadow League (@ShadowLeague) August 21, 2021
Following today’s race, in typical social media fashion, fans kept an ear to Twitter and tuned into the commentary of other competitors about the race, including Jamaican speedster Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who came in second at 10.73 and popped in on Twitter with a pair of emoji eyes.
Keeping with her professionalism that she always displayed, the five-time Olympic champion, didn’t have anything to say about Sha’Carri’s disappointing run.
The Prefontaine Classic — named after Olympian Steve Prefontaine — has been running for 48 years in Oregon. Last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
So it’s back to the drawing board for Richardson as she will now turn her focus to the World Championships which will be held right here in Eugene, Oregon in July 2022, where she was just humbled.
The World Championships were to be held in 2021, but because of the pandemic, the Olympics were bumped to this year and the world’s pushed back to 2022.
For her sake she may want the Jamaican trio to retire from the sport. Her advantage, is that she’s much younger than her competitors. She has time to get it together, live some more life, learn some more things, mature and get faster. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to rise up and reach your fill destiny.
