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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women Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson got track fans disappointed after official confirmations that they had withdrawn from making their 2024 season's debut at the Miramar Invitational,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.
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02:16 - 04.04.2024
'Different year, Different approach' - Sha'Carri Richardson postpones season's debut at Miramar Invitational
World's fastest woman Sha'Carri Richardson revealed she will no longer make her season's debut at the Miramar Invitational and has given her reasons for the development.
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19:25 - 05.04.2024
Shericka Jackson joins Sha'Carri Richardson to withdraw from Miramar Invitational
Shericka Jackson will not be competing at the Miramar Invitational on Saturday making this the third event she’s pulling out from this year for her season opener.
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.
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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.
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19:18 - 04.04.2024
Sha'Carri Richardson: World's fastest woman reportedly charges 6 figures for appearance fees
Another reported big money move for the world's fastest woman Sha'Carri Richardson.
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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