Sha’Carri Richardson fails to make it out of the heats at U.S. Trials

While the Canadian Track and Field Championships are taking currently place north of the border, some major stars made headlines down south after failing to make it out of the heats at U.S. World Trials. Sha’Carri Richardson and Cole Hocker both bowed out of the heats in their respective events, meaning they will not be competing for the U.S. Team at the World Championships this summer.

Richardson arrived at trials coming off a season’s best time of 10.85 (+1.3 m/s) two weeks ago at a Continental Tour meet in New York City. On Thursday evening, she finished a disappointing fifth in her 100m prelim heat at U.S. Trials. Her time of 11.31 seconds wasn’t enough to advance her into the semis as a non-automatic-qualifier. She ended up finishing 23rd of 32 runners.

The 22-year-old sprinter got off to a rough start out of the blocks and never recovered, missing out on a place in the semi-finals and ultimately, a spot in America’s 100m sprint team for the world championships. Richardson was in no mood to chat with the media after her race, and was seen sprinting through the media tent to avoid attention.

Sha’Carri Richardson runs past the media after failing to advance in the 100m pic.twitter.com/5SArO6IaHR

— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) June 24, 2022

At the 2021 Olympic Trials, Richardson won the women’s 100m but was later disqualified and banned due to a positive cannabis test by USATF.

She remains on the start list for women’s 200m. The heats are set to take place on Saturday afternoon from Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Another big Day 1 surprise in the men's 1500m as defending champ Cole Hocker looks uncharacteristically flat in the last 50 meters, fading from 1st to 6th in the final lap. Will need 4th place in both of the following heats to run slower than 3:39.57 to advance.

— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) June 24, 2022

Richardson wasn’t the only upcoming U.S. star to flop out in the first round, as Olympic 1,500m finalist Hocker was also unable to qualify for the semis. Hocker went out too fast in the men’s 1,500m and ran out of gas with 150 metres to go, crossing the line in sixth place in 3:39.57. Many tracks fans had high expectations for Hocker after a sixth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Like Richardson, Hocker still has a shot at qualifying in the men’s 5,000m, which will go off on Sunday evening.

You can view the results from the 2022 U.S. Track and Field Championships here.