Alana Reid has pulled a Sha’Carri Richardson! The Jamaican prodigy, supported in track and field by US sprinter Richardson, pulled a celebration similar to her idol after winning the World U20 Championships. Reid flew through the 100m in 11.17 seconds, cruising to a gold medal and leaving her competition in the dust. And just like the 2023 100-meter world champion, Reid threw her arms wide open at the finish line, sugar-coated with confidence as she soaked up the moment.

She didn’t just win; she stormed to victory in Lima, with Adaejah Hodge from the British Virgin Islands hot on her heels for silver in 11.27s, and Kishawna Niles from Barbados taking bronze with 11.37s. Talk about a Caribbean sweep! This win marks the fourth athlete from Jamaica to win the World U20 Championships title in succession.

Reid’s rise in Jamaican sprinting is something special. While the Paris Olympics had us all hoping for big things from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, Reid’s victory is the perfect reminder that the future of Jamaican sprinting is in good hands. Paris may not have been their moment, but Reid? She’s just getting started.

Thus, Reid is one of the biggest hopes of Jamaica to revive the female track and field discipline in the coming years. In order to receive better training and guidance, Reid shifted to Florida in 2023 to train with her present coach, Dennis Mitchell, at the All-Star Athletic Club. Interestingly, she also got a five-star training partner in Sha’Carri Richardson.

Well, the pairing is paying off. Before winning the gold medal, Alana Reid had yet another dominant run in the semi-finals. She clocked 11.44s as her opponents struggled to catch up to her. In the semis, Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan of Nigeria and Australia’s Aleksandra Stoilova clocked 11.56s and 11.58s, respectively, which were much slower times compared to Reid’s blitzkrieg. Idolising Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Reid’s team-up with Sha’Carri Richardson looks to be going strong, as the youngster has learned some valuable lessons from the US icon.

Alana Reid benefits from training with Sha’Carri Richardson

According to Alana Reid, Sha’Carri Richardson has inspired her to push her limits and remain focused. Reid’s partnership with Richardson has been more than just inspiring; it’s been transformative. “She teaches me a lot and shows me many things,” Reid shared about her mentor.  “There are times when I make a few errors, and she’ll pull me aside and give me advice.” That kind of hands-on guidance from one of the world’s top sprinters has helped Reid hone her skills, shaping her into a formidable contender in the fiercely competitive world of professional track and field.

Despite the U20 gold being her first major accolade, Alana Reid showed glimpses of being a champion long before her 2024 triumph. At just 16 years old, Reid broke the 24-second mark in the 200m of the NACAC U23 Championships, becoming the first U18 female to do so. Back in 2023, Alana Reid clocked an impeccable 10.92s while competing in the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships.

This way, she broke Veronica Campbell-Brown’s record, which stood intact for 22 long years. Thus, riding high on confidence, Alana Reid is looking to orchestrate her track and field career into the realms of greatness very soon! What do you think about Alana Reid channeling Sha’Carri? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Don’t miss this week’s Think Tank episode on EssentiallySports. Maddisen Skinner’s coach, one of America’s top volleyball talents, shares insights into his star student.