2023 Botswana Continental Tour – The 200m, another of those races where fans of Sha’Carri Richardson were left cold. The Olympian had taken her mark in Lane number 5, and in the very lane next to her was the 2019 NCAA champion. In an upset that followed, the former NCAA champion (22.38) triumphed over Sha’Carri Richardson (22.54).

One person who would not have been disappointed in the win of either of these was track and field coach Dennis Mitchell, the coach of both athletes. What would have disappointed him was the NCAA winning athlete, Kayla White, having to put her 2024 season to rest because of her injury. While she made her comeback this year, she also jotted down a note for her fans. Who said what?

Kayla White took to her X account on May 3rd to give out a message to her fans. The track and field athlete said, “Last year I was sidelined with a stress fracture and this year I’m 100% healthy and I got the chance to compete for 100k. Thank you @GrandSlamTrack 🙏🏾⏭️.” White had to pull out of the 2024 Olympic Trials that were held in Eugene, citing injury. Guess that injury was nothing but a stress fracture – a small crack or severe bruising within a bone caused by repetitive force or overuse.

Back then, White had said, “I’ve been battling an injury for months and me and my team have decided it’s best that we focus on becoming 100% healthy. I want to thank everyone along the way that spoke life into me and supported me through this tough time. I don’t know where I would be without you. To my supporters, I can’t wait to get back on track to make you all proud.” She eventually made her comeback in the Miramar Invitational.

April 5, Ansin Sports Complex, Florida – 2025 Miramar Invitational. Kayla White delivered a standout performance in the women’s 100 meters. Firstly, in the heats, the woman clocked a time of 11.12 seconds, and then in the finals, starting in lane six, she outpaced everybody in the latter half of the race to clinch the win with a time of 10.99 seconds. In the Tom Jones Memorial, she finishes second with a time of 22.97 seconds behind Elise Cooper’s 22.96. Her most recent race includes the Grand Slam Track. 

Kayla White at the Grand Slam Track

At the 2025 Miami Slam, part of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series, Kayla White competed in both the 100m and 200m events. In the 100m final held on May 2, she finished seventh with a time of 11.08 seconds, earning 2 points. The race was won by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in 10.75 seconds, followed closely by Tamari Davis at 10.79 seconds. While this was not the result she must have wished for, it didn’t get any better in the 200m.

The 100m was also disappointing for Gabby Thomas as she finished fourth in the race, but she redeemed herself in the 200m. White did not. On May 3, White took her mark on the track against the likes of Thomas and Brittany Brown. White placed sixth, clocking 22.85 seconds and adding 3 more points to her tally. Gabby Thomas won that race with a meet record of 21.95 seconds. Overall, White accumulated 5 points across both events, placing her seventh in the sprint standings. Do you think she would do better in the coming races?