After winning the 100m World Championship and a Paris Olympics 4x100m relay gold, Sha’Carri Richardson has become a mentor for emerging sprinters. After a disappointing Paris Olympics, Jamaican athlete Alana Reid is now leading the charge to restore Jamaica’s sprinting reputation. Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce both forfeited the 100m finals. In 2023, Reid relocated to Florida to train with Richardson and coach Dennis Mitchell at the Star Athletics Track Club. 

Reflecting on her experience, Reid shared, “Where Sha’Carri is concerned, it is a good feeling being around her.” This decision came after Reid’s standout 10.92s performance in the 100m at the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, where she set a new junior record. Reid’s impressive showing in the U20 Championship semi-final suggests a strong possibility for a title win, signaling a hopeful revival of Jamaica’s sprinting legacy.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s training boosts Alana Reid’s 2024 U20 prospects

On August 28, 2024, World Athletics hailed Alana Reid’s impressive 11.44 in the U20 100m semifinals on X, saying, “Oh she’s ready 😮‍💨 🇯🇲’s Alana Reid shuts it down early and wins her 100m semi-final. All eyes on tomorrow’s final 👀 #WorldAthleticsU20.” Inspired by her idol Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Reid began training with Sha’Carri Richardson and top coach Dennis Mitchell last year. Reflecting on the experience, Reid expressed immense gratitude for their support, which was pivotal to her success.

“She teaches me a lot and shows me many things,” Reid said about Richardson. “There are times when I make a few errors, and she’ll pull me aside and give me advice.” Reid expressed her gratitude for the 2024 Olympics champion’s support. She noted that Richardson had pushed her to exceed her limits. With only one goal in mind—focusing on herself and improving—Reid’s determination, combined with Richardson’s guidance, is paying off. Her recent standout performance is a testament to their effective collaboration. In the 100m semi-finals at the U20 World Athletics, multiple record-breakers finished in 11.44s. With incredible speed, she successfully kept Nigeria’s Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan (11.56) and Aleksandra Stoilova of Australia (11.58) behind. 

After her performance, fans speculate that Alana can reach the heights her senior fellow athletes have created. This year, Richardson became the world’s fastest woman when she won the 100m title at the World Championships in Budapest. There, she ran an outstanding race, finishing in a record time of 10.65s to defeat Jamaican competitors Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. As Reid has improved her techniques and skills with Richardson’s training motivation, it will help her raise her standard. She will learn a great deal from one of the world’s best coaches and sprinters, and it is hoped that she can make the Jamaican team proud in the finals. 

Reid’s road to recovery: Navigating challenges for a triumphant comeback

Incredible highs and challenging lows have marked Alana Reid’s journey. In 2023, she stunned the world by clocking 10.92 seconds at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, breaking Veronica Campbell-Brown’s 22-year-old record. But her path to success began long before that. As a young athlete in primary school, Reid showed her sprinting potential early. At 16, she became the first U18 woman to break 24 seconds in the 200m NACAC U23 Championships.

She claimed her first global medal the next year, winning bronze in the 200m at the 2022 World U20 Championships. She followed this with a CARIFTA Games 100m title and two more medals at the Pan American U20 in Puerto Rico. Yet 2023 was not just a year of victories. Reid faced personal challenges that tested her resilience. Reflecting on that time, she said, “If it wasn’t for certain stuff that happened in 2023, I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in right now, and I have to give thanks to God for that.”

Her triumph at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships, where she broke the 100m record, was defining. She then won the 100m at the East Coast International Showcase in Maryland, clocking 11.01 seconds and leaving her competitors behind. Reid has always looked up to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for inspiration. “Last year, I had myself watching all the videos of Shelly-Ann,” she said. Now, with her sights set on the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reid is focused on qualifying. “My dream is to go to Paris,” she said. “I’ll do everything in my powers to make sure I do my best.”

In April 2024, Reid was selected for the Jamaican team at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas. With determination and focus, she is ready for the next. Let’s see what she does in the U20 finals tomorrow.