After an underwhelming 2025 season debut at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo on May 18, where Sha’Carri Richardson struggled to a fourth-place finish in 11.47 seconds into a -0.9 m/s headwind, questions have swirled around whether the 25-year-old can rediscover the blazing form that made her the fastest woman on the planet in 2024.
That form included a 10.71s U.S. Olympic Trials victory and a 100m silver medal at the Paris Olympics, followed by anchoring the U.S. to 4x100m relay gold.
The reigning world 100m champion and Olympic silver medalist has confirmed her next stop: the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on July 5. It’s a meet she knows well, a stage she’s both stumbled on and conquered, and this year, it promises to be one of the most electric showdowns of the sprint season.
A Familiar Battleground
The Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field isn’t just another meet for Richardson. It has been the site of both heartbreak and triumph in her rollercoaster career. In 2021, she made her much-anticipated comeback here, only to finish ninth.
Fast-forward to 2023, she clocked an impressive 10.80 seconds for fourth, just behind sprint queen Shericka Jackson. Then came 2024, where she opened her season with a commanding 10.83-second victory, the fastest women’s 100m time in the Diamond League that year.
This July, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Not only is it the 50th anniversary edition of the Prefontaine Classic, but it also marks the start of Richardson’s final push toward the U.S. Championships on July 31 and the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
A Rematch Loaded With Firepower
Adding to the drama, the Paris Olympic podium trio of Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden will reunite in Eugene. Their Olympic final was one for the ages, with Alfred storming to a 10.72-second gold, Richardson taking silver, and Jefferson-Wooden bronze.
Since then, the sprinting landscape has heated up. Alfred recently clocked 10.75 seconds to shatter the Stockholm Diamond League record, and Jefferson-Wooden leads the world with a 10.73-second performance this season. Meanwhile, Sha’Carri is yet to fully fire, making the Prefontaine Classic her crucial moment to silence doubters.
Beyond Eugene, Sha’Carri Richardson has made it clear she’s eyeing a historic double at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, aiming for gold in both the 100m and 200m, and potentially chasing down the legendary records of Florence Griffith-Joyner.
Coach Rob noted that the competition will be fiercer than ever: “The way these women are running, one mistake and you’re out of contention. Prefontaine will be a test of speed and composure.”
As the clock ticks down to July 5, anticipation is building. Track fans are eager to see whether Sha’Carri Richardson, the ever-charismatic, ever-polarizing star, can recapture the form that made her the face of global sprinting last year.
