Sha’Carri Richardson Makes World History As Fastest In The World After  NCAA Sprint Double

Sha’Carri Richardson is now one of the fastest people in the world after breaking the record for the NCAA 100 and 200-meter dash.

Richardson is a 19-year-old freshman at Louisiana State University, and this past weekend she made history at the NCAA outdoor national championship in Austin, Texas in the 100 and 200-meter dash race. The Dallas, Texas native set a new record with a time of 10.75 seconds in the 100-meter dash, which broke former LSU sprinter #DawnSowell’s record. Sowell completed the event back in 1989 with a time of 10.78.

Richardson’s time is the fastest ever by anyone under the age of 20, the fifth fastest of any American woman and the ninth fastest all-time in women’s history. “Knowing the kind of tradition LSU has in the women’s sprints, it’s kind of crazy to think I’m up there with the all-time greats,” said Richardson in a press release after helping LSU finish third in the nation. “You see those names like Dawn Sowell, Kimberlyn Duncan, Aleia Hobbs, and Mikiah Brisco, and to know that I’m in their presence is special.

“Today was a great day on the track and I’ll never forget it. To set all those records in my home state in front of family and friends is truly special. I’m just glad I could go out there and put some points on the board for my team.” While she made history for women and the college, she also accomplished a feat no one ever has. Richardson ran times of 10.99 in the 100 meters and 22.37 in the 200 meters making her the first U20 woman in world history to run sub 11 seconds in the 100 meters and sub 23.4 seconds in the 200 meters all in one day.

Richardson ran a 10.99 in the 100-meter dash to match her career best that she set two weeks ago, and only an hour later made a time of 22.37 in the 200 meters, according to WGNO.com. There are only four U20 women in world history that ever ran sub 22.40 in the 200 meters, and she is one of only six women in U20 world history to break 11 seconds. However, Richardson is the only one in the world to ever do both. Richardson’s 10.99 was also the fourth sub-11 wind-legal 100-meter time in NCAA Championships semifinals history and it’s a U20 world lead.

Congratulations, Sha’Carri!