Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles lead US quest to reclaim sprint golds at Olympics

PARIS – For nearly two minutes at the Centennial Olympic Stadium on July 27, 1996, time stood still.

Milliseconds separated Gail Devers of the United States and Jamaican Merlene Ottey in the women’s 100m final at the Atlanta Games as both crossed the line in 10.94 seconds.

A tense delay ensued before Devers, who aptly had her iconic long nails painted gold, was declared the winner.

Her triumph was the last by an American woman in the century sprint while Justin Gatlin’s victory at Athens 2004 was the last US success in the men’s event.

In the 200m, Shawn Crawford and Allyson Felix’s wins in 2004 and 2012 respectively were the most recent for the team in red, white and blue.

It is a curious statistic given the US have topped the track and field programme at every Olympics since the 1984 Los Angeles Games but with Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles in their prime, that drought could end in Paris as the athletics events begin on Aug 1.

Richardson, 24, is the reigning 100m world champion and won the US Olympic trials in June with a world-leading time of 10.71sec and arrives in the French capital as a strong favourite.

Jamaica may have dominated this event since 2008, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah claiming two golds each, but the former is now 37 and the latter is not competing due to an Achilles injury.

Veteran Shericka Jackson, who won bronze at Tokyo 2020, announced on July 31 that she will be focusing only on the 200m, but Tia Clayton, 19, is a creditable threat, as is St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, who has run the third-fastest time this season (10.78sec).

But all eyes will be on a fired-up Richardson, who missed out on Tokyo 2020 after she tested positive for cannabis.

In the latest issue of Vogue magazine, she explained that the mantra – “I’m not back, I’m better” – she has repeated to herself for the past year is especially meaningful. She added: “I don’t just mean I’m a better runner. It’s beyond that. I’m better at being Sha’Carri. I’m better at being myself.”

While the US’ seven Olympic golds in athletics in Japan was their lowest haul since the 1976 Games, they responded with 12 titles at the 2023 world championships in Hungary.

Lyles, 27, claimed the sprint double in Budapest and owns the third-fastest 100m time (9.81sec) in 2024.

But he faces a tough fight against Kishane Thompson, who won the Jamaican National Championships in a world-leading 9.77sec and his teammate Oblique Seville (9.82sec). Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who ran 9.79sec in June, is also a contender.

Lyles, however, lacks nothing in the confidence department. “I’m going to win (in Paris). That’s what I always do,” he said after setting a personal best (9.81sec) at the London Diamond League in mid-July.

His chances in the 200m appear more straightforward. He is a three-time world champion in the event and owns the fastest time (19.53sec) this season.

Similarly, Gabrielle Thomas’ world-leading 21.78sec at the US trials gives her the edge in the women’s race.

Despite the absence of women’s 800m Olympic champion Athing Mu, who failed to qualify for Paris after a costly fall during the trials, this is still a star-studded US team.

It includes Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the women’s 400m hurdles defending champion who broke the world record for the fifth time at the US trials, three-time 110m hurdles world champion Grant Holloway, women’s pole vault Olympic and two-time world champion Katie Moon, while shot putter Ryan Crouser is eyeing an unprecedented third consecutive gold.

After dropped batons and disqualification scuppered their chances at previous editions, it could finally be the Americans’ moment to end their 24-year gold drought in the men’s 4x100m relay after they won the World Athletics Relays in May in a season-leading 37.40sec.

A relay double is also possible after the American women clocked a then world-leading 41.85sec at the same meet before Britain bettered their time with a 41.55sec effort at the London Diamond League.

Singapore will have two representatives. Asian Games champion Shanti Pereira competes in the 100m and 200m, while Marc Louis will make his Olympic bow in the 100m. Shanti’s 100m heat takes place on Aug 2, while Louis’ heat will be a day later.