Sha'Carri Richardson and the women's 100m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics

With the arrival of new sprint sensation Sha'Carri Richardson, the women's 100m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics has gotten a much-needed shot in the arm to excite the talent pool. The young and talented American first registered on the radar in 2019, running a blinding 10.75 seconds over the short sprint. However, at the US trials, she did not progress beyond the preliminary round, and so did not represent the US at the 2019 World Championship in Doha, Qatar. Two years later, in 2021, Sha'Carri Richardson resurfaced to record an even more impressive 10.72 seconds over the 100m, a personal best for her and a world leading time. This magnificent run places Richardson just below Elaine Thompson-Herah's and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's times of 10.70. In effect, Sha'Carri Richardson's time of 10.72 seconds makes her the fifth fastest woman in history over the 100m.

Questions

The big questions to be answered are these:

Can Richardson maintain her form going into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics that are scheduled for July 23- August 8? 

Can the American deliver on the biggest stage of track and field, going through three rounds of competition?

Can she maintain focus, form and composure against the likes of veterans and champions such as Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Dina Asher-Smith, Blessing Okabarre and Marie Josse TaLou or will she capitulate amongst the pantheons of sprinting legends?

The competition

On May 2, 2021, at the Pure Athletics Elite Meet in Clermont, Florida, Thompson-Herah stopped the clock in 10.78 seconds to win the women's 100m final with a tailwind of 1.8 m/s. This she did after running 10.76 seconds in the preliminary round in a 3.6 m/s tailwind. Only two weeks ago, the tall Jamaican, Natasha Morrison, ran a personal best of 10.87 seconds in the 100m at the TRUFit Sprint Classic that was held in Miami, Florida.

We are yet to see any times of note from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Dina Asher-Smith and Marie Josse TaLou. However, with various Olympic trials a little over a month away, we should get some indication of the forms of many elite athletes as well as those who are knocking on the doors.

Will the Olympic record be broken?

I will say this much: If all contenders report to the Games fully fit and healthy, the 100m Olympic Record of 10.62 seconds, held by Florence Griffiths-Joyner, could very well be a thing of the past. Assuming all the contenders report fully fit and healthy, who do you think will win the 100m final at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics? I do not know where you will hedge your bet, but I am banking all my money on Elaine Thompson-Herah to repeat the sprint double and to become the first woman in history to do so.

Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah) Sports Writer & Sports Analyst

Ben Nyah is a track and field enthusiast who has covered track and field for over 30 years. A graduate of Kingston College, Ben Nyah has interviewed athletes and analyze their performances. He has covered not just local Jamaican track and field athletes, but international athletes. His photogenic memory coupled with his analytical approach to the sport has led to lively and passionate perspectives of the sport.  

Edited by Raymond Byfield.

 Sha'Carri Richardson photo - courtesy of Joe Swift Photography