American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s Olympic double bid over

EUGENE – Sha’Carri Richardson’s dreams of an Olympic sprint double ended in disappointment at the US trials on June 29 as men’s sprint star Noah Lyles blasted to victory in the 200m.

Richardson – the reigning world champion over 100m – looked poised to claim at least a top-three finish in the women’s 200m after clocking a personal best of 21.92sec in the semi-finals on June 28.

But the 24-year-old never recovered after making a poor start in the final and was pipped to a top-three finish. Gabby Thomas won in 21.81sec, with Brittany Brown second (21.90sec) and McKenzie Long third (21.91sec). Richardson was fourth in 22.16sec.

The result means that Richardson will only have the 100m to focus on in Paris, in addition to her likely role in the 4x100m relay squad.

Thomas, 27, was delighted with a victory that gives her a possible tilt at the Olympic 200m crown.

“This is incredible,” she said. “I knew I needed to get today done and this is the first step – there’s no gold medal in Paris without making the team today.”

Lyles was also buoyant after the men’s final. The reigning 100m and 200m world champion served notice that he is ready to extend his dominance to the Olympic arena with victory in the men’s 200m final in a world-leading 19.53sec, a new trials record.

Lyles, who won the 100m on June 23, reeled in Kenny Bednarek in the final 20m to take the tape. Bednarek finished in 19.59sec, while Erriyon Knighton was third in 19.77sec.

Lyles was quoted by ESPN as saying: “The US have been dominating. We’ve had two medallists at least at each world championships and Olympics since 2021. So the 200, we definitely have a strong, strong (chance of) sweeping it.”

Bednarek added: “We were supposed to (sweep) in Tokyo. But I’m feeling very confident that we can get the job done this time. We’ve all got to make sure to execute when it matters most.”

But there was more disappointment for former 100m world champion Christian Coleman, who was squeezed into fourth place. The 28-year-old was also beaten out of the top three places in the 100m.

Over in Kingston, two-time reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson delivered the fastest time in the qualifying heats at the Jamaican Olympic trials on June 29. A day after winning the 100m crown to qualify for the Paris Olympics, the 29-year-old had the best heat time in a season-best 22.67sec.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who also qualified in the 100m, did not compete in the 200m heats and reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah is injured and will not defend her crown.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo will also not defend her title in Paris after suffering an injury, Bahamas athletics officials said. Miller-Uibo, the 2016 and 2020 Games 400m gold medallist, was chasing a hat-trick of Olympic titles in Paris.

France’s 2012 Olympic pole vault champion and former world record holder Renaud Lavillenie, 37, will miss the Paris Games after failing to achieve the qualifying height in his final chance at the French championships on June 30.

Lavillenie needed to clear 5.82 metres. He passed at the opening height of 5.60m before failing three times at 5.72m. AFP