The Prefontaine Classic’s women’s 100 meters was billed as a chance for Sha’Carri Richardson to reset her season. But when the gun fired, the story took a familiar turn.
Instead of seizing the moment, Richardson found herself playing catch-up once again. In a race shaped by headwinds and intense competition, it was Melissa Jefferson-Wooden who stamped her authority with a stunning 10.75-second victory in a stiff -1.5 headwind. Julien Alfred, the Olympic champion from Saint Lucia, followed closely in 10.77.
Meanwhile, Richardson labored home in ninth place with a disappointing 11.19, a result that not only surprised the crowd but reignited questions about a persistent flaw in her racing.
Déjà Vu from Paris to Eugene
What happened in Eugene echoed the narrative from Paris last summer. In the Olympic final, Richardson’s own silver-medal performance was marred by a slow start, an issue she admitted had cost her dearly.
And yet, in Eugene, history repeated itself. Lining up once more beside Alfred, she stumbled out of the blocks, never finding her rhythm or closing ground.
“I always see that as an improvement,” Richardson shared post-race.
“When it comes to working on my start… as well as when it comes to mentally getting more prepared for these moments despite good race, bad race, but being mentally in tune every single time I run down the track.”
It was a strikingly similar sentiment to the one she voiced after last year’s Olympic setback, a clear sign that the issue remains unresolved.
Trouble Brewing Before Eugene
The signs of trouble weren’t exclusive to the Prefontaine meet. Weeks earlier at the Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, Richardson placed a surprising fourth, clocking a sluggish 11.47 in the 100m final, far from the sharp, explosive performances that once made her a fixture at the top of sprint rankings.
That race was won by Australia’s Bree Rizzo in 11.38, with Twanisha Terry and Canada’s Sade McCreath finishing ahead of Richardson, who appeared off-pace and was visibly strapped on her lower right leg. The Tokyo race was her lowest finish of the year, until Prefontaine.
Where Does This Leave Richardson?
With the U.S. Olympic Trials approaching, the conversation surrounding Richardson has shifted. Two consecutive disappointing results, within months of a global championship, have created a sense of uncertainty about her readiness.
Still, the 24-year-old remains defiant in spirit.
“If you don’t believe in yourself first, you can’t expect anybody else to believe in you,” she said in Eugene.
“So, I believe in the fact that no matter what I do, when I am 100%, there’s literally nothing that can stop me but me.”
