Sha’Carri Richardson holds countless fond memories at Hayward Field in Eugene—so many that when asked to pick her favorite, she found it difficult to choose. Eventually, she settled on a moment from the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships, just before winning the women’s 100m. That was when she dramatically pulled off her wig and tossed it onto the track. “I would probably say that was one of my favorite moments because not even just in my talent and body, also in my spirit and in my heart, I just felt really good,” she reflected. But on Saturday, July 5, that magic at Hayward Field didn’t return—luck simply wasn’t on her side.

On Saturday, a packed crowd at Hayward Field watched Sha’Carri Richardson finish ninth in the women’s 100m, clocking 11.19 seconds. Her training partner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden took first place with a blazing 10.75, while Olympic champion Julien Alfred secured second in 10.77. What was anticipated to be a redemption race for Richardson instead turned into a major letdown. The disappointing performance sparked a wave of harsh criticism from a portion of track and field fans, with some even calling for her retirement. However, amid the backlash, two track and field analysts stepped up to defend her, praising her for a specific reason.

In the latest episode of Track World News, hosts Colin Waitzman and Noah Williams took a deep dive into Sha’Carri Richardson’s showing at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic. While Noah didn’t hold back in critiquing her performance—remarking, “It was basically over when it started. She [Sha’Carri Richardson] was fighting for last,” —there was one aspect both analysts commended: her honesty. Ahead of the race, the Dallas native openly shared that she had been dealing with an early-season injury. “Definitely, it’s a blessing in disguise this year that the season is kind of longer. I definitely, I’m honored to, the fact that I am the reigning world champion in the 100 meters, so I’ll be having a bye of the 100,” she stated. Colin Waitzman acknowledged that this level of transparency is rare in the sport.

The track and field analyst expressed frustration with the sport’s lack of transparency, saying, “I’ve I think that’s the one that’s one of the things of track and field that annoys me a lot of where in football, like, I know if Patrick Mahomes has an injury and I know exactly what the injury is and I know exactly when he’s coming back.” Meanwhile, the Olympian acknowledged the reality of the situation. “Sha’Carri didn’t have to tell us she was injured. She could have never known that she had an injury, cuz no one’s going to make her report it. But I appreciate that she let us know. And so it was, the race wasn’t good. And so I know that you know you’re battling those injuries,” Waitzman explained.

While he admitted that Richardson wasn’t anywhere near her 2021 Prefontaine Classic form, he also pointed out that she now has the luxury of choice. With her automatic spot already secured for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, Sha’Carri can choose when she wants to return at full strength.

Sha’Carri Richardson confirms her mental strength 

On June 1, Sha’Carri Richardson broke her silence with a bold message on X: “June is here and I truly have no fear for the rest of the year🙏🏽!” Just like that—boom. That was the spark America had been waiting for. It was loud, clear, and fearless: Sha’Carri wasn’t backing down. Not now. Not ever. The reigning comeback queen was just getting started. Two days later, she doubled down with another powerful message: “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the steps“. But fast forward to July 5, and things didn’t go as planned at the Prefontaine Classic. After a tough ninth-place finish, most would’ve gone silent. Not Sha’Carri. Instead, she opened up with striking honesty.

“I always see that as an improvement,” Sha’Carri said, speaking about the part of her race that still challenges her. “If you don’t believe in yourself first, you can’t expect anybody else to believe in you.” Then came the line that echoed like a warning to the world: “So, I believe in the fact that no matter what I do, when I am 100%, there’s literally nothing that can stop me but me.” Win or lose, one thing’s for sure—Sha’Carri Richardson isn’t done. She’s just sharpening her edge.