Sha’Carri Richardson misses out on Olympic qualification in 200m

Sha’Carri Richardson seemed ready for a royal crowning as she strutted onto the Hayward Field track for the 200m final at the Olympic trials on Saturday night. But as fate would have it, there was another queen in the running—Gabby Thomas.

Thomas left her longtime rival in the dust, blazing through with a scorching 21.81s to secure her ticket to Paris. Richardson, on the other hand, crossed the line a distant fourth with a 22.16s, trailing significantly from the very start.

Thomas has always been a fierce competitor for Richardson. At the 2023 World Championships, Richardson claimed gold in the 200m, with Thomas hot on her heels, snagging the silver.

But on this particular night, Thomas was on fire, clocking an electrifying 21.78s in the semis to claim the top spot.

Richardson, in comparison, seemed sluggish. The powerful strides that propelled her to victory in the 100m just weren’t there. Despite giving it her all, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the City of Lights.

Joining Thomas on the plane to Paris are Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long. They couldn’t quite keep pace with Thomas but were the only other runners to dip below 22s, proving their deserving places.

As for Richardson, she’ll have to content herself with spots in the 100m and the 4x100m relay. Not a bad consolation prize, all things considered.

 

Women’s 200-meter final results