Jamaican queen vs American queen?! Oh, we love a sprint showdown with some heat! If you’re a track fan, you already know what’s brewing: Sha’Carri Richardson vs. Shericka Jackson. Both clocked 10.65 in the 100m. Same personal bests. Same fire. But let’s talk current form, Sha’Carri opened her season with an 11.47, while Shericka dropped a shaky 11.04. Hmm. Early rust or a sign of something more? Too soon to call, but one thing’s for sure: the countdown to the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, July 5, 2025, just got real interesting. Because it’s time for SCR to take her revenge.
And guess who’s headlining the women’s 100m? Yep, Sha’Carri “I’m not back, I’m better” Richardson. Remember that iconic line after she lit up Hayward Field in 2023? Since then, she’s been stacking medals like it’s nothing: World Champion, Olympic medalist, relay queen. But hold up, don’t sleep on Shericka Jackson.
History says she always shows up at Pre, and if she’s there this year? Whew. We might be looking at a rematch for the ages. So here’s the real question: Can Sha’Carri finally snap that Jamaican grip? Or will Shericka pull up and remind the world who’s boss? Right now, the official start list only has Sha’Carri confirmed, no Shericka (yet). But don’t count her out… Even the folks at Total Running Productions think something big might be brewing.
The recent YouTube video discussed the ongoing clash in women’s sprinting, focusing on Sha’Carri Richardson’s start to the 2025 season. At the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, Sha’Carri’s performance was surprisingly underwhelming. She finished fourth in the 100m with a time of 11.47 seconds, well below what fans had anticipated given her past achievements. The race was won by Australia’s Bree Rizzo, who clocked 11.38 seconds.
Notably, Sha’Carri Richardson ran with strapping on her lower right leg, and she was slow out of the blocks, never managing to lead the race. Despite this slow start, there’s no need for panic. Sha’Carri has a history of beginning seasons sluggishly but picking up momentum later, as seen in 2024 when she opened with slow 200m races but ended the year with the fastest 100m time globally at 10.71 seconds. Still, an 11.47-second run won’t be competitive at major events this year, so she’ll need to improve quickly.
Meanwhile, her main rival Shericka Jackson has hit the ground running, winning her season opener at the Diamond League Rabat meeting with an impressive 11.04 seconds in the women’s 100m. That time is nearly half a second faster than Sha’Carri Richardson’s best this season and sets Shericka up as the early favorite heading into the upcoming Prefontaine Classic.
The rivalry between these two sprinters remains one of the highlights of the season. Their average race times are remarkably close, around 10.78 seconds for Shericka and 10.88 seconds for Sha’Carri, keeping fans eagerly anticipating who will break the 11-second barrier first this year.
The Prefontaine Classic, coming up, could crystallize who will emerge as the leading sprinter before the World Championships take place. Besides Sha’Carri and Shericka, big athletes like Julian Alfred, Melissa Jefferson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will be there, making the event a highlight worth watching. With so much excitement, we hope the 2021 Prefontaine Classic won’t repeat for SCR.
Five victories deep, Shericka Jackson’s lead over Sha’Carri Richardson is no fluke
Remember how impressive Shericka Jackson’s results have been at the Prefontaine Classic for a few years? Let’s begin with her 2021 year. There she finished third in the women’s 100m by running 10.76 seconds, beaten only by Elaine Thompson-Herah. But it was the next year to be in history, as this time it was Jackson vs Sha’Carri Richardson. But ended up again SCR in third place at 10.92, while Thompson-Herah had the leading time. But the year that will never be forgotten in track and history will be 2023! It was when Jackson stole the show. Not only did she win the 100m in 10.70 seconds, but she also blew away the 200m with a meet-record 21.57 seconds. But SCR?
Well, back in 2021. Sha’Carri Richardson at the Prefontaine Classic performed poorly and finished last, with 11.14 seconds. But being a part of the race was an achievement for SCR because it was after she faced life’s biggest setback that she was suspended from track in 2021, which kept her out of the Tokyo Olympics. Missing out on the gold and finishing at the back in 11.14 seconds was just the start of her victory. During the next few years, Sha’Carri improved and came second to Thompson-Herah in 2022, with a time of 10.92. After that, she won the 2023 World Championships 100m in an outstanding time of 10.65 seconds. But it was in 2024 at the Prefontaine Classic that she achieved her major breakthrough, taking the women’s 100m with a fast time of 10.84 seconds and outpacing rising stars Julien Alfred and Dina Asher-Smith.
There are so many good reasons to see Jackson and Richardson compete at the Prefontaine Classic. Jackson’s many top-finish results and new record times indicate how powerful she is. At the same time, Sha’Carri Richardson’s great performances give fans all the excitement they expect. Hayward Field turns every competition into a celebration when the best runners appear. Such races inspire progress in women’s sprinting and let fans appreciate the most exciting moments on the track right now.
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