No qualification worries for Richardson as she seeks revenge against Alfred in Zurich
Reigning World 100m champion, Sha’Carri Richardson is returning to the Diamond League circuit on Thursday at the Weltklasse in Zurich where she will be seeking to avenge, as it were, her unexpected loss to St Lucia star, Julien Alfred in the 100m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The American was tipped as the favourite to add the Olympic 100m title to the World title she won in Budapest, Hungary last year but Alfred sped home first in a new 10.72 lifetime best and national record to win.
The 24 year old has not raced since the end of the Olympics in Paris and has now been handed the opportunity to prove her defeat to Alfred was just by happenstance.
Richardson will not have to worry about the miracle she will need to perform in Zurich to seal a lane in the event at the Diamond League final in Brussels as organizers of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme has given her a wild card to battle for the $30,000 top prize, Diamond trophy and wild card to next year’s World Athletics Championships on offer in Brussels.
The former NCAA 100m champion would have needed her direct challengers for what looks like the only qualifying spot left, Tia Clayton of Jamaica and Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland to place between sixth and eighth on Thursday and for her to win to be able to seal a place in Diamond League final.
The other challenger, Ewa Swobodo of Poland is not listed to race in Zurich and will not be in Brussels with the award of the wild card ticket to Richardson.
Richardson has lost thrice to Alfred in five head-to-head clashes and the American will be seeking to tie it 3-3 in Zurich before meeting again in Brussels for the final 100m battle of the season.
The race in Zurich will not be about the duet between Richardson and Alfred as Africans, Marie-Jose Ta Lou-smith and Gina Bass will be hoping for a great run to put them in confident mood ahead of the Diamond League final.
Ta Lou-Smith has punched her ticket to Brussels while Bass already has a leg in and will only need to run at the Weltklasse to seal her spot.
