The two fastest women of 2023 competed in the 100m event at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Sunday (16 July), and it was Sha’Carri Richardson who emerged as the winner. Shericka Jackson, who had recently achieved a personal best of 10.65 at the Jamaican trials, initially seemed to have the upper hand as she overtook the fast-starting home favorite, Ewa Swoboda, halfway through the race.
However, Richardson stuck to her race strategy, maintained her form, and finished strong. Just a few meters before the finish line, she took the lead and triumphed with a time of 10.76. Jackson secured the second position with a time of 10.78, while Swoboda delighted the home crowd by breaking the 11-second barrier for the first time with a time of 10.94. Twanisha Terry finished fourth with a season’s best of 10.99, followed by Britain’s Daryll Neita, and Germany’s European champion Gina Lückenkemper in seventh place.
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Richardson, who has maintained an undefeated record in 2023, expressed her joy after the race, stating, “It was an amazing race, I am really having fun. The 10.76 – I love the time. I put a great race together. This was a great competition, it was amazing. I executed correctly. I love the atmosphere here. I wish we could replicate this in the U.S. All the energy, all the love from the audience. I was satisfied with my race altogether.”
With Jackson’s impressive performance in winning the sprint double, including defeating Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 200m event at the Jamaican trials, and with Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah currently out of form, Richardson has established herself as a genuine contender for the world title in Budapest next month.
UNBEATABLE
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 16, 2023
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She remains undefeated in the 100m in 2023 and takes down world-leader @sherickajacko ????#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/Qr3kYamXyB