Early season withdrawals: Is Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson being strategic?

Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest

Early season withdrawals: Is Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson being strategic?

Funmilayo Fameso 07:46 - 06.04.2024

Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson withdrawing from the Miramar Invitational has raised several questions from fans. So are they really being strategic, avoiding each other, or only want to reveal their season form when it matters?

The world's fastest women Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson got track fans disappointed after official confirmations that they had withdrawn from making their 2024 season's debut at the Miramar Invitational,

Richardson was scheduled to compete in the 100m and 200m and the Jamaican speedster in the 200m - were supposed to be the main female stars of the meet based on their healthy rivalry in 2023.

However, they both pulled out hours from each other, stirring online conversations on their actions, after Richardson made the first move and Jackson followed suit.

While this is the first for the US champion this season, it's the third withdrawal for the Jamaican, and fans are now asking questions. These questions centered on either being strategic with their races in the Olympic year, avoiding racing each before Paris, or simply not wanting to reveal their early forms to the other's advantage.

Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest

For context, both women had several battles last season in which Richardson came out tops - highlighted by winning the world 100m title in Budapest, while Jackson's victories came by defending her 200m world and Diamond League 100m titles.

They were undeniably the stars of female sprints in 2023, and with the stakes being high this year, their priorities won't be to entertain fans with their rivalry in less-important meets but the big showdown in Paris, where they will be gunning to leave with the bragging rights as the Olympic champion.

There are also talks on appearance fees. Richardson's pay is reported to have skyrocketed to six figures, and if the reports are true then Jackson may have done the same. Or it could simply be other modalities such as the weather and nature of the track being favourable for a fast race.

Whatever the reasons for their withdrawals are, it is foreseen that fans will get at least a spectacular race by both speedsters at one point of the season before the Paris Olympic Games.

Nonetheless, Richardson is expected to make her season's debut in the 200m at the Diamond League in Xiamen on April 20th and Jackson a week later in Shanghai. Although, they won't be racing each other.

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