[VIDEO] - Sha'Carri Richardson applauds and acknowledges her top rival she has to keep an eye on

[VIDEO] - Sha'Carri Richardson applauds and acknowledges her top rival she has to keep an eye on

Funmilayo Fameso 15:19 - 12.02.2024

Is Sha'Carri wary of a new rival that can dethrone her? Find out who she is and she has gone as far as watching her live in a race.

World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson is keeping tabs on her rivals, and she has gone as far as watching one of them race at a meet.

Richardson was present at the Millrose Games on Sunday, not to compete but as one of the spectators who watched some of the world's best athletes take to the track.

Sha'Carri Richardson was present at the Millrose Games

The Games began on a historic note, where Devynne Charlton stormed to a new 60m Hurdles World Record of 7.67s. By doing this, Charlton erased Susanna Kallur's previous time of 7.68s set in 2008 and also obliterated her previous lifetime best of 7.75s. 

However, during the women's 60m final, the world's fastest woman will be captured applauding Julien Alfred after the former standout college athlete dominated the field to cross the finish line in a new world lead of 6.99s.

Richardson's gesture of applauding and nodding her head to Alfred's flawless supremacy in the race could only mean she has acknowledged her as a top rival and contender to her throne in the women's sprint events.

Sha'Carri Richardson applauding Julien Alfred after her world-leading 60m race

Who is Julien Alfred?

Alfred dominated the college scene in 2023, staying undefeated throughout her races and blazing to the second-fastest indoor times in history in the 60m and 200m at 6.94s and 22.01s. While in the outdoor 100m and 200m, she has lifetime bests of 10.81s and 21.91s. 

Julien Alfred

When she transitioned to the professional level, she stayed unbeaten in the 100m and even defeated Richardson at a meet. 

The 22-year-old's first loss came at the World Championships in Budapest, where she'll eventually finish fifth in the women's 100m final won by Richardson.

With her momentum still building for the 2024 season, the St. Lucian athlete is one of the favourites for the world indoor title in Glasgow, and barring unforeseen circumstances, a top challenger for an Olympic medal in Paris.  

When is Sha'Carri Richardson making her 2024 season debut?

The world's fastest woman hasn't made it public yet when she'll make her 2024 season's debut, as she's known to mostly not compete indoors.

Sha'Carri Richardson is the reigning world's fastest woman

It remains unknown if Richardson will compete at the US Indoor Championships for a spot on the team to the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow next month or if she'll focus on her outdoor meets ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.

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