Sha’Carri Richardson faces her first defeat of the year. Yesterday, the world of athletics put two women with perfect scores in the 100m to compete on the tracks of Hungary. As one of the fastest women of this season, Sha’Carri Richardson competed against Julien Alfred, a college athlete who exhibited a stunning performance, winning all five final 100-meter races of the year.
The 22-year-old Julien Alfred has been in good form since the beginning of the year by juggling both NCAA indoors and NCAA outdoors until its finals on June 10. And on Tuesday, Alfred claimed her first continental win at the Gyulai István Memorial on her debut of the continental tour, 2023. Many fans praised the rising star for her staunch achievement while also talking about Richarsdon’s poor performance on the track. Fans believe the long, exhaustive races to be the reason for the LSU star’s defeat at the event.
Sha’Carri Richardson faces her First defeat
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Held in Hungary, the Gyulai István Memorial is one of the annual track and field events of the continental tour of USATF. This year the event’s women’s 100-meter race was held on July 18, in which Sha’Carri Richardson faced her first defeat. As a University of Texas sprinter, Julien Alfred finished the race in just 10.89 seconds. While Richardson for the first time in 2023, USATF settled for second place with 10.97 seconds. Tamari Davis also secured a place on the podium, finishing third in 11.02 seconds.
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After this event, many track and field enthusiasts posted this news on social media. On July 18th, a fan tweeted with the caption “Julien Alfred handed Sha’Carri Richardson her first defeat over 100m this season, winning at the Gyulai István Memorial in 10.89s! Richardson was 2nd in 10.97 seconds, while Tamari Davis ran 11.02 seconds to finish 3rd”
Julien Alfred 🇱🇨 handed Sha'Carri Richardson 🇺🇲 her first defeat over 100m this season, winning at the Gyulai István Memorial in 10.89s!
Richardson was 2nd in 10.97s while Tamari Davis 🇺🇲 ran 11.02s to finish 3rd.pic.twitter.com/nPj9dEEYWL
— Oluwadare (@Track_Gazette) July 18, 2023
Richardson started the race trailing in the third position on the tracks, behind US sprinter Tamari Davis. However, despite her poor start, Richardson was strong enough to secure the second position, leaving Davis behind. Unfortunately, the athlete could not leave Alfred behind and had to settle for the second position. Since Richardson’s comeback, the athlete has been participating in multiple races in 2023. Many fans are blaming her fatigue for her poor start at the track.
Fans ask Richardson to take a break
Richardson opened her season in April and has traveled to Asia, Africa, and now Europe for her races. And this much traveling can be the reason for the athlete’s poor performance at the track yesterday. After the recent tweet, many disappointed fans criticized Richarson’s start performance while suggesting the sprinter take a break and relax. As one fan tweeted.
What is that?😭is she exhausted?
— Odinaka Akpamgbo (@AkpamgboO) July 18, 2023
One fan suggested the sprinter take a break, as she wrote.
She needs to take a break lol. She literally just ran.
— Queen Bre. (@brehall_) July 18, 2023
While one fan criticized the track and field fans for biased opinions.
When American athletes lose, everyone’s filled with excuses but when the other countries stars lose everyone hates on them. Julien Alfred is just as good an athlete as Richardson, and technically more accomplished!!
— kiddkosher (@kiddkosher1) July 18, 2023
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Moreover, a fan raised concern over making Richardson run so much.
Why are they racing her so much?
— J.Nash (@JamalNash9) July 18, 2023
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Richardson’s next race will be held in London on 23rd July. Hopefully, the sprinter will be able to regain her dominance on the tracks in this race.
Watch this story:Track and Field Community Gathers to Support Sha’Carri Richardson’s Outrage on USATF’s Meagre $8,000 Prize Money