On Sunday, Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island hosted the NY Grand Prix, and New York came out to support the amazing track and field athletes.
But by the sounds of things, it appeared that many more came out to support Sha’Carri Richardson.
Richardson is on a quest to reclaim her position in the world of track and field.
After blazing through the US Olympic Trials in June of 2021, Richardson’s gold medal dreams were squashed after she tested positive for marijuana and was disqualified from the 100m at the Summer Games in Tokyo.
“I want to take responsibility for my actions,” Richardson said at the time. “I know what I did. I know what I’m supposed to do and am allowed not to do, and I still made that decision. I’m not making an excuse. I’m not looking for any empathy in my case.”
It was a devastating blow for the rising star who set the track world on fire.
Sha’Carri was a star at Dallas Carter High School. She won four individual state titles and became a two-time Texas Relays champion.
Then it was on to LSU, where her blistering times, personality and style made her an instant attraction.
Once she arrived at LSU, she made her presence felt. Not just through her times, but with her personality and style.
In her sole season for the Tigers in 2019, Sha’Carri added her name to the record books.
At the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, she clocked a 10.75 in the 100m, breaking the collegiate record (10.78) set by LSU’s Dawn Sewell 30 years prior. That made her the fastest junior sprinter ever and placed her in ninth place in the all-time 100m record book. About an hour later, she took second in the 200m with a time of 22.17, besting Alyson Felix’s world junior record of 22.18
Richardson brought renewed attention to a sport that more than deserves it.
Her presence reminded many of Flo Jo, and she had the attitude, flair and talent to match.
But then she was disqualified and the doubters started their anti-Sha’Carri campaign.
When Team Jamaica swept the women’s 100m in Tokyo, many doubted that she could defeat Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Shericka Jackson.
The doubters were emboldened after Sha’Carri was dusted by not only the Jamaican Olympians but the entire field after her much-hyped return at the Prefontaine Classic in August 2021.
But they never shook her confidence or belief in herself.
At her first event this season, she ran 11.37 in horrible conditions and won 100m gold at the Duval County Challenge American Track League in Jacksonville, Florida. A few weeks later, she dropped her time to 10.92 and finished right behind Elaine Thompson at the 2022 Prefontaine Classic.
On Sunday, Sha’Carri ran her two best races of the season in front of an adoring crowd.
She took second to Aleia Hobbs (10.83) in the 100m with a time of 10.85 and then won the 200m with a time of 22.38.
When she crossed the line in the 200m, screams rained down from the stands for Sha’Carri, a nice contrast to the ridicule she received after her dusting in Oregon last August.
After four good results in three events this season, it’s safe to safe that Sha’Carri Richardson has returned to the form that the world was used to seeing her in before she learned of her mother’s passing and was disqualified from the Olympics for using marijuana to cope with her mother’s death.
On Sunday, New York showed up and showed out for the young sprinter. When New York does that you know you’re special.
Even better, Sha’Carri responded to the crowd with her usual flair and won them over simply by being Sha’Carri Richardson.
And New York loved her for it.
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