Sha’Carri Richardson made her return to the track at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., but she was no match for world’s greatest speedsters.
The 21-year-old sprinter, participating in an official competition for the first time since she was suspended because of a positive test for marijuana, finished ninth in the 100-meter women’s race on Saturday. Richardson posted a time of 11.14 seconds, well behind Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah, who recorded the second-fastest time ever (10.54 seconds).
MORE: Explaining Richardson’s Olympic marijuana ban controversy
Jamaica once again dominated the women’s field, as Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.73 seconds) and Shericka Jackson (10.76 seconds) were the first three runners to cross the finish line. The trio took home the gold, silver and bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics in that same order.
| Rank | Name | Time |
| 1. | Elaine Thompson-Herah | 10.54 |
| 2. | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | 10.73 |
| 3. | Shericka Jackson | 10.76 |
| 4. | Teahna Daniels | 10.83 |
| 5. | Marie-Josee Ta Lou | 10.90 |
| 6. | Javianne Oliver | 10.96 |
| 7. | Mujinga Kambudnji | 10.96 |
| 8. | Briana Williams | 11.09 |
| 9. | Sha’Carri Richardson | 11.14 |
Richardson, who missed this year’s Olympic Games as a result of her suspension, held her head high during her postrace interview on NBC, saying she still has a bright future ahead of her.
“Coming out today, it was a great return back to the sport. I wanted to be able to come and perform having a month off, dealing with all I was dealing with,” Richardson said. “I’m not upset with myself at all. This is one race. I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of. Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s— you want because I’m here to stay. I’m not done.”
Sha’carri Richardson after the race: “This is one race. I’m not done. Count me out if you want to … Talk all the shit you want to! You know what I can do!” pic.twitter.com/xlmJzpDd2D
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 21, 2021
At the Olympic trials, Richardson ran the 100 meters in 10.86 seconds. She recorded a time of 10.72 seconds in the 100 at the 2021 Miramar Invitational, her personal best in that event and the sixth-fastest time in women’s history.
“I’m the sixth-fastest woman in this game ever and can’t nobody ever take that from me,” Richardson said. “Congratulations to the winners. Congratulations to the people that won, but they’re not done seeing me yet, period.”