‘Nothing Can Stop Me’ - Sha’Carri Richardson Remains Defiant Despite Horror Show at Prefontaine Classic

Sha'Carri Richardson has offered candid insights into handling setbacks after a disappointing performance at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic.

The American sprinter finished last in the women's 100m at the Diamond League meet in the USA on Saturday, July 5.

Richardson struggled, clocking 11.19 seconds for ninth place. Meanwhile, her fellow Paris Olympic medalists excelled. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Julien Alfred took the top two spots with times of 10.75 and 10.77 seconds, respectively, well ahead of the rest of the field, including third-place finisher Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith (10.90).

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In a post-race interview, Richardson discussed her approach to dealing with adversity: "Honestly, it's about having a ground. I go back to my faith and having that faith. If you don't believe in yourself first, you can't expect anybody else to believe in you. So, I believe in the fact that no matter what I do, when I am 100%, there's literally nothing that can stop me but me."

She also identified areas for improvement, including her start and mental preparation, emphasizing her goal of consistent mental focus on the track.

As the reigning world champion, Richardson has an automatic entry into the 100m at the 2025 World Championships. She set a championship record of 10.65 seconds in the 2023 edition, beating seasoned competitors Shericka Jackson (10.72) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.77).

Before the Prefontaine Classic, Richardson addressed her goals in a pre-race press conference. When asked about aiming for a win or a specific time, she prioritized a healthy, injury-free race.

“I am looking for a well-executed race. That definitely involves me having a healthy race. I was staying an injury this year in February that completely set me back from the season, delaying my start of the season and just how I would normally execute. So, if anything, my biggest thing is having a healthy race tomorrow,” she said.

Aside from the Prefontaine Classic, Richardson's only other competition this season was the Seiko Golden Grand Prix, where she finished fourth in 11.47 seconds, just off the podium.