The Sha’Carri Richardson vs Shericka Jackson rivalry lives on in Tokyo. Remember when we saw them giving some tough time to each other on the track in the 200m at the Budapest World Championships? The Jamaican had set the track on fire with a run of 21.41s, defending her 200m world title, while Richardson settled for bronze with 21.92, pushed down by Gabrielle Thomas’s silver performance of 21.81. Now, as the American looks to defend her 100m title, they meet again in the heats of the 100m in Tokyo. Spoiler: The defending champion wins. How?

Despite the slow start once again, the defending 100m champion clocked her fastest time of the entire season. While still not a sub-11 to win the third heat of women’s 100m in the World Athletics Championships, she recorded 11.03 seconds on the clock. Shericka Jackson crossed the line just behind Richardson in 11.04 seconds. A very close race, indeed; yet the American once again takes the lead in this contest. Australia’s Torrie Lewis finished third, clocking 11.08 seconds.

While both of them had a slow start, Shericka Jackson was quick to the lead in the race in lane 5, while Richardson trailed at number 2 or 3. The commentators were quick to point out, “Shericka Jackson with a very nice start. Sha’Carri Richardson has some work to do, needs to be in the top three.” And the American did. In the last few meters of the race, the 100m world champion accelerated for the win by one tenth of a second. Their record now stands at 5-5 in the 100m, and it also marks Richardson’s first win over Jackson in the last two years.

Their last clash was in the 2023 Prefontaine Classic, when the Jamaican had clocked a time of 10.70 seconds to claim victory. Sha’Carri Richardson, however, was fourth in 10.80, outrun by Ivory Coast’s Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith (10.75) and  Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.79).

Shericka Jackson and Sha’Carri Richardson’s 100m rivalry

If we talk about their 100-meter clashes, both of them have been speed demons on the track against each other. At the 2023 World Championships, in the semifinals of the 100m, the world saw Shericka Jackson outrunning Richardson, winning that race is 10. 79 seconds, Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith clocked the same time, finishing ahead of Richardson at 10.84s. However, in the 100m finals in Budapest, Richardson clinched the gold by clocking a time of 10.65 while Jackson finished just behind her in 10.72 seconds.

Before that, at the 2023 Silesia Diamond League, the American toppled her Jamaican counterpart in a thrilling finale. Richardson won the 100m in 10.76 seconds, just getting the better of Jackson who clocked 10.78 in Poland.

Interestingly, this year at Rabat Diamond League, Jackson stood atop the podium in 100m finals with 11.04 seconds. However, her American rival didn’t participate due to a delayed season debut. However, both Richardson and Jackson came face to face at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

And once again, by winning the heats of 2025 World Championships, Richardson was able to have an upper hand over her Jamaican rival, as the American is now looking to defend her 100m title. Both are solid contenders to be in the finals of the 100m, and that would be a faceoff worth watching, a race where they would put their best foot forward for the medal. Who do you think will emerge victorious?