In a disappointing turn of events, American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson finished fourth in the women’s 100m final at the U.S. Olympic Trials, narrowly missing out on a spot on the Olympic team in the 200m. Richardson came into the Trials as one of the favorites to represent the United States in both the 100m and 200m at the Tokyo Olympics. She is the reigning NCAA 100m champion and holds the collegiate record in the event. In the 100m final on Saturday night, Richardson posted a time of 10.86 seconds, trailing winner Javianne Oliver, runner-up Teahna Daniels, and third-place finisher Jenna Prandini. With her fourth-place finish, Richardson will not be eligible to compete in the 200m at the Olympics, as only the top three finishers in the 100m qualify for the 200m. Richardson’s absence from the Olympic team is a major blow to the United States’ hopes of medaling in the 200m. She is one of the most promising young sprinters in the world, and her exclusion from the team will leave a void in the American lineup.Sha’Carri Richardson Finishes Fourth in 200-Meter Final at U.S. Track TrialsSha’Carri Richardson Finishes Fourth in 200-Meter Final at U.S. Track Trials EUGENE, Ore. (June 29, 2024) – Sha’Carri Richardson’s hopes of a medal in both individual sprints at the upcoming Paris Olympics took a hit on Saturday as she finished fourth in the 200-meter final at the U.S. track trials. Richardson, who will still compete in the 100 meters and the 4×100-meter relay, was passed on the outside down the stretch and crossed the line in 22.16 seconds, her slowest time in the three 200-meter races she ran at the trials. Gabby Thomas won the race in 21.81 seconds to claim her second consecutive national title. Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long finished second and third, respectively, with times of 21.90 and 21.91. Richardson, who won the bronze medal at last year’s world championships in the 200m, had been seen as one of the three contenders for the top three in the race. She was in the top three, about 40 meters from the finish line, but Brown and Long passed her and pulled away from her. Thomas, 27, who decided not to run the 400m in the trials so she could focus solely on the 200m, her best race, will be looking to add a medal to the bronze she won in the event three years ago in Tokyo. “I knew I had to get the job done today and this is the first step,” Thomas said. “You couldn’t get a gold medal in Paris without doing the work today, so I’m very happy to be alongside these incredible women.” Richardson will still have the 100 meters, where she will go as the favorite and reigning world champion. She also has a spot on the women’s 4×100-meter relay team.Richardson will not be participating in the 200m at the Olympics after finishing fourth in the trials. The sprinter had been expected to challenge for a medal in Tokyo, but she will now have to settle for competing in the 100m. Richardson has been in excellent form this season, running a personal best of 10.72 seconds in the 100m. She also won the Diamond League meeting in Monaco in July. However, she was unable to reproduce her best form in the trials, finishing behind Sha’Carri Richardson, Javianne Oliver, and Jenna Prandini. The 21-year-old was visibly disappointed after the race, but she vowed to come back stronger. “I’m not going to let this setback define me,” she said. “I’m going to learn from this and come back even stronger.” Richardson will now have to focus on the 100m at the Olympics. She is one of the favorites for the gold medal, and she will be hoping to make amends for her disappointment in the 200m.