Sha ‘Carri Richardson has reacted following the appointment of Caryl Smith Gilbert as the head coach of the U.S. women’s team for the upcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Smith Gilbert, currently serves as the head coach of Georgia’s track and field program. She will lead the women’s squad at the championships set to take place from September 13 to 21 at the National Stadium. She will also oversee the sprint and hurdle disciplines.
Sha ‘Carri Richardson, one of Team USA’s top sprinters, reacted to the news with a spirited post on Instagram, writing:
“@coachcarylsg Let’s go!!!”
Her reaction comes as no surprise, given Smith Gilbert’s remarkable success this season. Under her guidance, Georgia captured its first-ever NCAA women’s outdoor national title on June 14, just weeks after winning the school’s first Southeastern Conference (SEC) outdoor crown in 19 years.
Smith Gilbert’s stellar year earned her the “South Region Women’s Coach of the Year” award. Also, she was recently named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the third time in her career,having previously claimed the honor in 2018 and 2021 during her tenure at USC.
Since taking over the program in Athens in 2022, Smith Gilbert has steered Georgia to 12 top-10 national finishes. This includes six in the top five,firmly establishing herself as one of the sport’s most respected coaching figures.
In addition to Smith Gilbert, the U.S. coaching staff for Tokyo will feature several other Georgia connections. Former Bulldog thrower Kibwe Johnson will serve as the men’s head coach and lead the throws group, while UGA graduate and former Athletic Association trainer Harris Patel will also be part of the team staff.
Meanwhile, the 2025 USATF National Championships will be held in Eugene, Oregon, at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. This highly anticipated meet, scheduled for July 30 to August 3, will serve as the official trials to select Team USA for the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
