This Day in Track and Field History: Sha’Carri Richardson Lifted Her First Ever Bowerman Trophy for LSU

It was the year 2019, when Sha’Carri Richardson was a freshman at LSU and she made her presence known on the tracks by surpassing the 30-year-old record held by LSU Tiger, Dawn Sowell. Ever since then, she has been on her winning spree. Interestingly, she turned pro shortly after delivering back-to-back performances in the 2019 season. And hence, the sprinter was honored with the Bowerman trophy in the same year.

Now, it’s been four years since the day Richardson lifted her Bowerman trophy – the first of many accolades to come. Interestingly, her four-year-old picture from the award ceremony resurfaced and gave her fandom nostalgia for when the sprinter became the first freshman ever to win the Bowerman trophy.

2019 Bowerman Awardee: Sha’Carri Richardson

Four years back, Sha’Carri Richardson has just set on her voyage of a remarkable career in track and field. After clinching the record of the NCAA’s fastest women and top high hurdlers across the globe, Richardson was honored with the Bowerman Award. Little did she know she was going to write another record under her name.

ISU track and field took it to their Instagram account to commemorate the triumph she celebrated four years ago. They posted a couple of photos and videos of her celebrating her Bowerman Award. The caption read, “Four years ago today, Sha’Carri was crowned @thebowerman.“

The moment of triumph came when Richardson walked to the podium and expressed her gratitude for everyone who helped her along the way. 

“I’m thankful for Coach (Dennis) Shaver, Coach Bennie (Brazell), and my girls back at LSU,” Richardson said. “I’m thankful for them because without them I don’t know how I would have made it through the season.  Their love and support were a driving force for me to want to do better, to want to go faster, and to be greater for the legacy of LSU.”

Even though four years have passed, the sprinter is still adding accolades to her wall of fame. Recently, she achieved the honour of being the 2023 Outsports Female Athlete of the Year. 

Outsports 2023 Female Athlete of the Year

Richardson started the 2023 track and field season on a great note, as she graced her presence on the track after two year hiatus. From the 2023 Doha Diamond League and 2023 Kip Keino Classic to the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Richardson made sure to clinch podium finishes at every event. Hence, with the same enthusiasm with which she started her season, she concluded it with the feeling of content and elation.

Hence, for her incredible sprinting spree throughout the 2023 season,  Sha’Carri Richardson received the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Athlete of the Year Award for Women from USA Track and Field after a year of accomplishments that saw her wining the gold in the 100 meters, the bronze in the 200 meters and anchoring the gold-medal winning 4×100 meter relay team at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

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“I understand the influence that I have, I understand the responsibility that I have to [USA Track and Field] and as a top female USA athlete, and to my country, and to my black family, to my beautiful women, to everybody that has been misunderstood for trying to be their best selves and not be put into a category because they do track and field and have been put in a bubble.” Richardson expressed her heartfelt encomium as she lifted her award.

Now, to add another accolade to her already impressive resume, Richardson is girding up her loins to clinch another triumph next year at the French capital.

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