By Jennifer Zahn - FloTrack
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After rewriting the NCAA and U20 record books as a freshman at Louisiana State University, Sha'Carri Richardson announced Wednesday that she will forgo the rest of her collegiate eligibility in favor of signing a professional contract.
At the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, Richardson did the unthinkable when she ran 10.75 in the 100m final, which reset the 30-year-old NCAA record, 10.78, formerly held by LSU's Dawn Sowell.
Her 10.75, a massive improvement on her former PR of 10.99, also made her the ninth-fastest performer in world history, the fastest junior ever (she felled the world junior record of 10.88 set in 1977 by Marlies Göhr of East Germany), and the current world leader.
Less than an hour later, Richardson competed in the 200m final against USC's Anglerne Annelus, the defending champion, going nearly stride for stride to the line, and finished runner-up in yet another world junior record, 22.17, which bested Allyson Felix's mark of 22.18 from 2003. '
After the championships concluded, many speculated about whether or not she would go pro--today, she made her decision.
Richardson has yet to announce her agent and sponsor.
Richardson was one of the top girls sprinters in the country out of Dallas Carter High School, where she won four individual state titles in Texas, was a two-time Texas Relays champ at 100 meters and was fourth in the 100m at Brooks PR in 2018.
She was ranked by MileSplit as the top girls sprint recruit in the Class of 2019. Her high school resume included wind-legal best times of 11.28 seconds for 100 meters and 23.29 seconds for 200 meters. She also posted all conditions bests of 11.12 and 23.02.
