Sha'Carri Richardson advances to semifinals at trials with season-best time in 200

Sha'Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas advance to 200m semifinals at US Olympic trials. McKenzie Long looks for redemption.

The highly anticipated Paris Olympics are quickly approaching, and the excitement is palpable as athletes gear up for the first post-pandemic Games. One standout athlete making waves at the US Olympic track and field trials is Sha'Carri Richardson, who has secured her spot in the next round of the women's 200 meters.

Richardson's impressive performance saw her finish first in the opening round with a season-best time of 21.99, the second-fastest time in the world this year. Her dominance in the 100 meters, where she clocked the fastest time in the world this year at 10.71, has already earned her a ticket to the Paris Olympics. Despite the 100 being her strongest event, Richardson is expected to also secure a spot on Team USA's women's 200 squad.

Another athlete to watch is Gabby Thomas, the silver medalist at the 2023 world championships, who has advanced to the semifinals in the 200 meters. Thomas, ranked No. 3 in the world in the event, clinched her spot with a winning time of 22.11 in the fourth heat.

Meanwhile, McKenzie Long is looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the 100 meters. She redeemed herself by finishing first in the second heat of the 200 with a time of 22.49, securing her spot in the semifinals. Known as one of USA TODAY Sports' college athletes to watch, Long showcased her talent by winning the 100, 200, and being part of Ole Miss' gold medal-winning 4x100-relay team at this year's NCAA championships.

As the competition heats up at the US Olympic trials, these athletes are proving themselves to be forces to be reckoned with as they set their sights on the Paris Olympics.

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