Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s return to the track after not being allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympics did not go as she had hoped, but she stressed that she’s “not done.”
Richardson finished last in a field of nine runners in the 100 meters at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon. Her time of 11.14 seconds was well behind winner Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Olympic gold medalist from Jamaica who clocked 10.54 seconds for the second-fastest women’s time in history.
The 21-year-old Richardson was given — and accepted — a 30-day ban after testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana after her victory in the 100-meter finals at the Olympic trials on June 19. She was left off the roster for the Tokyo Games by USA Track and Field.
“It was a great return back to the sport,” Richardson said in an NBC interview after Saturday’s race. “I wanted to be able to come and perform having a month off. … Not upset at myself at all. This is one race. I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of.
“Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s— you want, cause I’m here to stay. I’m not done. I’m the sixth-fastest woman in this game, ever. And can’t nobody ever take that from me. Congratulations to the winners. Congratulations to the people that won, but they’re not done seeing me yet. Period.”
After she received the ban, Richardson said the stress of her biological mother’s death combined with the pressure of preparing for the Olympic trials led her to use the drug.
Richardson is scheduled to run in the 200 meters later Saturday.
Thompson-Herah’s time was second only to Florence Griffith-Joyner’s record 10.49 seconds set in 1988.
Fellow Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson finished second and third, respectively.
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