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≡ SHA’CARRI’S SLOW START ≡
There were two world-leading performances at the Continental Tour Gold Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo (JPN) on Sunday:
● Men/3,000 m: 7:39.69, Jude Thomas (AUS)
● Women/1,500 m: 4:01.10, Georgia Griffith (AUS)
Thomas won a close race in the 3,000 m, needing his 7:39.69 to edge Ermias Girma (ETH: 7:40.42) and Brian Fay (IRL: 7:41.09). Griffith ran away in the women’s 1,500 m, winning by almost five seconds over Nozomi Tanaka (JPN: 4:06.08).
But the featured race was the women’s 100 m, with Olympic runner-up and 2023 World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. in her season debut. There was a recall as Richardson appeared to flinch but was green-carded and then another call-up by the starter.
On the third try, Richardson got an even start, was quickly behind Terry, but was coming on a little in mid-race. But she did not have her usual close and Australia’s Bree Rizzo came on from the outside and won over Terry, 11.38 to 11.42, into a 0.9 m/s headwind. Richardson eased up in the final meters and ended up fourth in 11.47, in her first race since last September. It was her slowest time in a 100 m since a heat in 2021 and her slowest in a final since 2020.
Japanese fans were thrilled with the final event, as home favorite Hiroki Yanagita won the men’s 100 m in 10.06 (+1.1 m/s) over Americans Christian Miller (10.08) and 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman (10.11). Pjai Austin of the U.S. was seventh in 10.20.
NCAA 200 m runner-up Robert Gregory scored an important win in the men’s 200 m in 20.24 into a 2.4 m/s headwind, ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN: 20.29).
Japan’s Rachid Muratake moved to no. 10 on the 2025 world list in the 110 m hurdles, winning in 13.16 into a 1.1 m/s headwind. American Dylan Beard was third in 13.38. Trevor Bassitt of the U.S., the 2022 Worlds silver winner, took the men’s 400 m hurdles in 48.50, now no. 6 in 2025, chased home by Ken Toyoda (JPN: 48.55).
Liam Adcock (AUS) won the men’s long jump at 8.20 m (26-11), moving to no. 4 on the 2025 world outdoor list. American Marc Minichello, a two-time NCAA champion, won the men’s javelin on his final throw, reaching 82.36 m (270-2)
In the women’s 100 m hurdles. American star Tonea Marshall won in 12.54 (+0.7) ahead of country woman Alia Armstrong (12.68). Olympic high jump champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh took only two jumps to win at 1.96 m (6-5), then missed once at 2.00 m (6-6 3/4) and retired.
Olympic javelin champ Haruka Kitaguchi thrilled the home crowd with a win at 64.16 m (210-6) in round five.
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Collegiate conference meets were on this weekend, with – as usual – most of the highlights coming from the Southeastern Conference meet in Lexington, Kentucky:
● Arkansas sophomore Jordan Anthony, the NCAA Indoor 60 m champ, won the men’s 100 in a lifetime best of 9.95 (wind: 0.0) to move to no. 4 on the 2025 world list and then took the 200 in a lifetime best of 19.93 (+1.3), now no. 5 for 2025. Auburn senior Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM) was the closest in 20.08.
● Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood won the 110 m hurdles in a tight battle with NCAA Indoor 60 m hurdle winner Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn, winning by 13.13 to 13.15 (+0.5), moving to nos. 7 and 9 on the world list.
● In the men’s 400 m hurdles, Tennessee frosh Saad Hinti (MAR) got a national record of 48.44 to win over Texas junior Kody Blackwood (48.78).
● South Carolina soph JaMeesia Ford overpowered the field in the women’s 200 m, winning in 22.01 (+1.9) to move to no. 3 in the world this year.
Arkansas won the men’s team title over Georgia, and the Georgia women won over Texas A&M.
At the Big XII in Lawrence, Kansas, Baylor senior and three-time NCAA scorer Nathaniel Ezekiel (NGR) moved to no. 3 in the world in the 400 m hurdles, winning in 47.89, a lifetime best and his fourth national record in the event.
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