Furious Sprint Finals Highlight Day Two Richardson and Charleston Are Victors

This is David Hunter’s column on the second day of the USATF Champs! 

Furious Sprint Finals Highlight Day Two

Richardson and Charleston Are Victors

June 7, 2023

Eugene, Oregon

As expected, the premier events of Day Two were the women’s and the men’s 100-meter dash.  These sprint finals are always a tense and mentally-taxing showdown to determine who is the fastest kid on the block.  There is a lot of pride and ego on the line.  But in the end, it is not about the swagger or the bravado.  It’s about being the first one to get to the finish line.

w100m.  The premier events of Day Two were the women’s and the men’s 100-meter dash. Sha’Carri Richardson, fresh off her world-leading 10.71 in the preliminary round, powered her way to a devastating victory in heat 1 of her semi. In Heat 2, Tamari Davis (10.96) and Tamara Clark (10.98) also authored sub-11:00 performances to advance.  Other notable advancers included Brittany Brown, Melissa Jefferson, and high schooler Mia Brahe Pedersen.

In the final, Richardson was focused and serious.  Normally a crowd-pleasing fashion plate, Richardson got down to business and tossed her orange wig to the side as the athletes crouched into their blocks.  With a solid start and a textbook drive phase,  Sha’Carri left the field in the dust as she crossed the line in 10.82, followed by Brown (10.90) and Davis (10.99).

m100m.  Christian Coleman looked strong with his quick start intact as he won his semi in 9.98.  Noah Lyles (9.94) and Cravent Charleston (9.98) also turned in sub-10 performances in the other semi. In the final, Coleman (9:96) got his customary rapid start as Lyles (10.00) chased in vain.  But the dark horse Charleston (9.95) got to the line first for what has to be considered an upset.

wHJ – Final.  Vashti Cunningham, Rylee Anderson, and Jenna Rogers authored cleaned cards through the first two opening heights.  At 1.91m/6’3¼”, Anderson and Rogers went three and out while Cunningham, always poised in the clutch, sailed clear on her 2^nd attempt to clinch the win.