Inflicting a stern look at the competition while sprinting has become the new normal on the track, and we’ve got the fastest man alive to Usain Bolt to thank for it. The lanky sprinter was practically expected to glance back at his chasers just meters before the finish line—a move he pulled off with flair, year after year. Picking up where Bolt left off, Oblique Seville has tried to keep the tradition alive. He’s thrown that icy stare Noah Lyles‘ way twice now, but it was a mixed bag. Lyles eventually settled the score with Seville in the Paris Olympics final. But let’s not forget, the sprinting duchess herself, Sha’Carri Richardson, has been right in the mix!

Just a few weeks ago, she had her own “Bombastic Side Eye” moment. In the 4x100m women’s relay final at the Paris Olympics, the 24-year-old threw that same fierce look at her rivals as she blazed past them. Daryll Neita from Britain had to bear the brunt of it, running neck and neck with Richardson. Was it because of their budding rivalry, that Neita had the upper hand in their first showdown this season? Maybe. But could this staring contest be contagious?

It sure seems like it. Sha’Carri Richardson’s protégé from Star Athletics has clearly taken notes. At the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, on August 31, Jamaican phenom Alana Reid had one job: help her squad win the women’s 4x100m relay final. Fresh off a gold in the 100m, she was unstoppable, leaving Australia’s Jessica Milat in her dust on the anchor leg. But the real showstopper?

Reid flashed that same fierce look as she cruised past Milat. Wasn’t that something? The internet sure thinks so. Now, folks are saying Sha’Carri Richardson has inspired Alana to bring a little drama to the track. One fan even said, “Alana has learned a lot from Sha’carri. Must be her idol by now.” Alana, who joined Dennis Mitchell’s camp in 2023, has been training alongside Richardson, so it’s no surprise that some of Sha’Carri’s style has rubbed off on her. In fact, the Jamaican star has admitted as much herself.

In one of her chats, Alana Reid didn’t hold back on her admiration for Sha’Carri, saying, “She teaches me a lot and shows me many things.” That’s a pretty solid nod to all the wisdom Sha’Carri has passed down. Reid spilled a bit more tea, adding, “There are times when I make a few errors, and she’ll pull me aside and give me advice.” And let’s be real—if anyone knows about iron-clad endurance on the track, it’s Sha’Carri Richardson. That resilience was on full display during the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships.

The track at Estadio Atlético de la Videna was packed with fierce competition from the USA, Australia, Canada, and beyond. The U.S. squad, despite a fumble during the handover, was still the favorite to dominate. For a brief moment, the Australian sprinter seemed to have the upper hand in the anchor leg. But Alana Reid wasn’t about to let that gold slip away. She kept her cool, and the victory was hers. Fans on X couldn’t help but point out how much of Sha’Carri Richardson’s spirit they saw in her performance.

Sha’Carri Richardson earns an unexpected shoutout on Jamaica’s big day!

Sha’Carri Richardson knows how to give props where they’re due, especially when it comes to her Jamaican competitors. After snagging silver in the 100m final at the Paris Olympics, while the world buzzed about her performance, SCR was busy applauding Tia Clayton’s efforts. The teenage sensation had tried to keep the Jamaican ship steady after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s exit, and even though Tia finished seventh without a medal, she still got her flowers from Sha’Carri on Instagram. Fans didn’t forget that. So, when another Jamaican sprinter Alana Reid channeled Sha’Carri’s style on the track, one fan commented, “I know @itsshacarri somewhere smiling now.” The internet was quick to draw even more parallels between the American and Jamaican stars.

One follower nailed those similarities, writing, “The calm strides! The facial expressions! Yeah, she did that.” Another fan jumped in, adding, “Learning well from her training partner I see.” But amid all this chatter, the mastermind behind the scenes, coach Dennis Mitchell, stayed out of the spotlight.

Back in his sprinting days, Mitchell was a key player on the 4x100m relay team for Team USA, with his crowning moment coming at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Now, at 58, he’s shaping the next generation of talent to follow in his footsteps. Sha’Carri Richardson lit up Paris, and Alana Reid did the same in Lima. As one fan pointed out, “Two of Dennis Mitchell’s athletes love giving their competition the side eye.” So, who do you think will win this stare-down competition in the end? Let us know!