Lane nine just fine for American loner Sha’Carri Richardson as she claims world title in women's 100m

BUDAPEST – United States sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson said winning the world 100 metres final from lane nine on Monday was fitting after a lifetime of being in her own world.

Richardson was given the outside lane as a consequence of coming through the semi-finals as a fastest loser, but turned it into an advantage as she focused on her own race to run down Jamaican Shericka Jackson and take her first global title in a championship-record 10.65 seconds.

Jackson finished 0.07sec adrift, ahead of bronze medallist and compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 10.77sec.

“I just felt that I executed an amazing race for myself, not even knowing where the other ladies were. I was by myself in my own world, which honestly has been like that all my life,” she said.

“I’ve always been in my own world, my own element, so lane nine was perfect for me to do what it is that I know to do and focus on myself.”

In the post-race press conference, the 23-year-old certainly did that – berating foreign journalists for mispronouncing her name or for daring to question her performance in the semi-finals, when she was left sitting in the blocks and came so close to blowing her big chance.

It would not have been the first time, Budapest representing her maiden global championships, despite being at the very sharp end of women’s sprinting for four years.

She won the US trials for the Tokyo Olympics but was then banned after testing positive for cannabis.

In 2022, she failed to qualify in the 100m or 200m in the world championships and had to watch as Fraser-Pryce, Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah took a Jamaican clean sweep in the 100m, as well as gold and silver in the 200m on American soil in Eugene.

Social media exchanges added to the rivalry, with retired Jamaican men’s sprint star Usain Bolt suggesting Richardson should “talk less and train more”, though her flamboyant appearance and provocative postings helped build one of the biggest followings in the sport, with 2.5 million followers on Instagram.

So, finally getting to a world championships, surviving the semi-final scare and then chasing down the fastest woman in the world this year – Jackson – over the last 20m certainly felt like a major achievement.

“Never give up, never allow media or outsiders to define who you are. Always fight, no matter, fight,” she said when, inevitably, she was asked about her “journey”.

“Going into the final, surviving each round, knowing the heavy hitters would be there and that I knew I had to come with them. I’m just happy to sit here knowing it all paid off.” 

On a good night for the US, Grant Holloway raced to his third consecutive 110m hurdles world championship gold medal in dominant fashion.

The 25-year-old, who won in 2019 in Doha and 2022 in Eugene, cruised to victory in a season’s best 12.96sec before holding up three fingers, hollering “one-two-three” to the delighted crowd.

“I’m speechless right now,” he said. “Nothing feels like the first one, but this one I’m definitely going to cherish in my heart.”

Hansle Parchment of Jamaica closed well to take the silver in 13.07sec, while Daniel Roberts of the US clocked 13.09sec for bronze.

“To come back out here and do it with my brother (Roberts), we started running in college together, having battles, now we’re able to have these battles on the world stage.

“Consistency is my biggest attribute. The biggest thing is I come out there and I know what I’m going to run before I’m on track.”

The final was missing the fastest man this season, Rasheed Broadbell of Jamaica (12.94sec), who crashed out in the heats. REUTERS