The Olympic and world champion tops the famed 120m handicap race on turf in Australia to join a select circle in her season opener. Her partner, Christian Coleman, failed to overcome his scratch and did not reach the men’s final.
Sha’Carri Richardson became the third ever woman to win the Stawell Gift in Australia from scratch on Monday (6 April).
Richardson tipped teenager Charlotte Nielsen – who had a nine-metre headstart on the former 100m world champion – at the wire to win the 120m handicap race in an adjusted time of 13.15.
The Stawell Gift is Australia’s oldest sprint race, held on grass at Central Park, Stawell, every Easter weekend.
The Olympic gold medallist almost did not qualify for the six-woman final as she pulled up at the line in her semi-final heat, progressing in a photo finish over Halle Martin by 0.007.
“The love, the support, the true enjoyment that I had on the track, I know everybody’s having here,” the 26-year-old said after the race.
“I had a great time. Y’all fuelled me, y’all made this moment happen so thank you.”
Bree Rizzo also won from the back marker last year with Melissa Breen being the other to accomplish the feat in 2012.
In the men’s race, Richardson’s partner Christian Coleman was not as fortunate, the U.S. sprinter failing to advance from his semi-final after also starting from scratch.
Olufemi Komolafe went on to in 11.93 from the 5m mark.
