After 35 Years of Losing to Florence Griffith-Joyner’s Record, Sha’Carri Richardson Gears Up for Last Run at World Athletics Championship

The ongoing 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest is entering its final stage. Only a couple of events remain as the championship will conclude on the 27th of August. American track star Sha’Carri Richardson entered the Championship on the back of a great run in the U.S. Championships last month. She won the 100m finals with a time of 10.82 seconds while also securing a silver medal in the 200m event with a time of 21.94. Richardson continued her 100m dominance in Budapest by becoming the 100m champion with a 10.65 second time.

In the process, she also ended up beating her closest rival, Shericka Jackson, who managed a time of 10.72 seconds and won the silver medal. Now the two formidable foes clash again in the 200m event. But this time both athletes just won’t look to beat each other, but they will also aim to break a 35-year-old world record.

Sha’Carri Richardson eyes 35-year-old world record

After becoming the world 100m champion recently, Richardson’s 100m time of 10.65 seconds is now the 6th fastest time in women’s 100m history. The record list is led by Florence Griffith-Joyner with her 10.49 seconds, a world record that has stood for 35 years. However, Griffith-Joyner is also the proud owner of another 35-year-old world record in the women’s 200m – 21.34. Richardson and Jackson have both qualified for the upcoming women’s 200m finals in Budapest and both will aim to break Griffith-Joyner’s 35-year-old-record.

It remains to be seen who will eventually triumph. However, Jackson came within reaching distance of Griffith-Joyner’s record when the Jamaican ran 21.45 seconds in Eugene, last year. This means that come race day, Richardson will be squaring off against the world’s second-fastest woman in the 200m discipline.

Last month at the U.S. Championships, Richardson ended up losing the 200m event to Gabby Thomas but did run her personal best time of 200m with 21.94 seconds. Sha’Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson will also be joined by Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Gabby Thomas, Dina Asher-Smith, Julien Alfred, and Daryll Neita. As Richardson aims to replicate her 100m dominance, another American track star aims for the same.

Read more: “When Was the Last Time the US Won”: Honoring Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles Raises an Important Question Amidst World Athletics Championship

Noah Lyles aims to win the 200m event

After recently becoming the 100m champion in Budapest, Noah Lyles now looks to dominate the 200m event. In what was a closely contested race, the American track star secured the top spot with a personal best time of 9.83 seconds. Lyle now aims to win the 200m, for which he has already qualified with the fastest time of all semi-finals by securing a spot in 19.76 seconds. This is impressive in itself, as just before the semi-final run, Lyles was involved in a golf cart crash while being transported to the track. He will also be joined by Erriyon Knighton and Zharnel Hughes, along with others.

As for Sha’Carri Richardson, she will continue to aim for more of the same as she has been running rampant this year on the track. Her past few runs have been mesmerizing for the crowd, along with her opponents. She is bound to face tough competition from other competitors, but as she gears up for her last run of the tournament, Richardson will aim to set a new world record in the women’s 200m.

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