Sha’Carri Richardson seemed poised for triumph as she stepped onto the Hayward Field track for the 200m final at the Olympic trials on Saturday night. However, her plans were upended by a formidable opponent, Gabby Thomas.
Thomas outpaced her longtime rival, posting a remarkable 21.81s to secure her spot in Paris. Richardson finished a distant fourth, clocking in at 22.16s, well off the pace set during the initial heats of the event.
Gabby Thomas has always been a tough competitor for Richardson. At the 2023 World Championships, Richardson won gold in the 200m, with Thomas close behind, taking silver. This time, Thomas looked even stronger, securing pole position with a blazing 21.78s in the semifinals.
Richardson, by contrast, appeared sluggish. The powerful strides she exhibited in the 100m seemed to falter. Despite her efforts, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the French capital.
Joining Thomas in Paris are Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long. While neither could match Thomas stride-for-stride, they were deserving of their places, being the only runners in their group to go sub-22s.
Richardson will have to settle for spots in the 100m and 4x100m relay, which is still a significant achievement.
The Sporting News provided live updates from Richardson’s 200m final run at this year’s Olympic track and field trials. Follow below to see the highlights and results of one of the biggest races in the American track calendar, in which Thomas excelled.
Women’s 200-Meter Final Results
USA Olympic Track and Field Trials Live Updates, Highlights from Women’s 200-Meter Dash (All times Eastern):
8:31 p.m.: Joining Thomas in Paris will be Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long!
8:29 p.m.: Thomas paces out in front, outlasting Richardson and the rest of her contenders to take top billing! Richardson falls out of the top-three entirely!
8:27 p.m.: Richardson and Thomas receive huge applause as they line up ahead of their respective starting blocks.
8:26 p.m.: Richardson trotted onto the line during yesterday’s semifinal. If she does so again, her score will be nixed.
8:20 p.m.: We’re inching closer to tonight’s big race. As a reminder, Richardson posted a 21.91 time to qualify for the finals. Thomas, by comparison, clocked in at 21.78.
7:45 p.m.: A compelling contest between Richardson and Gabby Thomas — runner-up to Richardson in the 2023 World Championship — is ahead. Richardson will be in Lane 6, while Thomas will take her strides in Lane 8.
How to Watch USA Olympic Track and Field Trials:
- Start time: 8:27 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
The women’s 200m final is slated to kick off around 8:27 p.m. ET. NBC will broadcast coverage of the track and field trials from 8-10 p.m. ET, including the women’s 200m final. NBC’s coverage can be live streamed with Peacock or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
USA Olympic Track and Field Trials Schedule Today:
Saturday, June 29