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SPORTS Friday 18 august 2023

Sha’Carri is back, Shelly-Ann never left: Women’s 100 is the race

to watch at track worlds

By EDDIE PELLS meters have already set
AP National Writer world records in 2023. Also,
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Poland’s Pawel Fajdek has
— When she stamped her won five straight titles in the
name on the long, illustri- hammer throw and could
ous list of American sprint join Bubka (and potentially
champions earlier this sum- Fraser-Pryce) as six-time
mer, Sha’Carri Richardson champions in their event.
also set the stakes for the The women’s 100 record a
year ahead of her and 35-year-old mark of 10.49
the rest of the fast pack of owned by the late Flor-
100-meter runners she’s go- ence Griffith-Joyner has
ing against. been thought to be in jeop-
“I’m not back. I’m better,” ardy ever since Jamacia’s
she declared. Elaine Thompson ran 10.54
Whether that is good in 2021, about two weeks
enough to win gold med- after winning her second
als starting this week at the Olympic title.
world championships, then Griffith-Joyner’s husband,
again less than 12 months coaching great Al Joyner,
from now at the Paris said he’s noticed sprinters
Olympics, comes down Sha’Carri Richardson reacts as she wins her heat in the first round of the women’s 200 meters studying Flo-Jo’s old videos,
to whether she can finish during the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, July 8, 2023. looking for clues.
in front of defending and Associated Press “It may click where they
five-time world champion execute right and you’re
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Ivory Coast, who joins Rich- where Fred Kerley defends who skipped the 400-meter going to see somebody go
and the Jamaican’s team- ardson and Jackson as the his title and a strong roster hurdles this season to run in 10.48 or 10.3,” Joyner said.
mate, Shericka Jackson. three women to crack 10.8 of American runners try to the 400 flat, withdrew from “It’s going to click for some-
Jackson has the world’s this year. repeat last year’s podium the worlds because of a body, to the point of say-
best time this year (10.65 Two years after being de- sweep. nagging knee injury. Her ing, ‘Oh, wow’ because of
seconds), but has lost to nied a spot in the Olym- In many ways, this year’s target is Paris, though it’s the level of all the sprinters
Richardson in their only two pics after testing positive meet is a preview of what still a mystery as to which is out that are running so
head-to-head matchups for marijuana, Richardson to expect when many of events she’ll run. fast.”
in 2023. Fraser-Pryce is try- will line up at her first ma- the same athletes take to This year, a familiar cast Just as the 100 and the
ing to match pole vaulter jor competition when the the track at the Stade de threatens the record books: 200, which takes place
Sergey Bubka’s record for 100-meter heats start Sun- France in Paris. Missing, Ryan Crouser in shot put, next week will not only
world titles in one individu- day. The meet itself begins however, will be one of the Mondo Duplantis in pole be about Richardson, the
al event. Also in the mix is Saturday with the early sport’s brightest stars. Syd- vault and Faith Kipyegon 23-year-old Richardson is
Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the round of the men’s 100, ney McLaughlin-Levrone, in both the 1,500 and 5,000 not only about running.q

Former F1 driver Massa claims conspiracy and says he is ‘rightful’

2008 champion not Hamilton

By MAURICIO SAVARESE One Management, alleg- fifth-place finish at the Bra-
AP Sports Writer ing the two bodies failed zilian Grand Prix, which was
SAO PAULO (AP) — Former to act after learning that won by Massa.
Formula One driver Felipe same year that Renault’s The difference between
Massa has accused auto Nelson Piquet Jr. had delib- the two drivers was one
racing’s governing body of erately crashed at the Sin- point.
conspiring to prevent him gapore Grand Prix to help “Simply put, Mr. Massa is
from winning the 2008 title, then-teammate Fernando the rightful 2008 champion,
and the Brazilian claimed Alonso win the race. The and F1 and the FIA deliber-
he is the “rightful” cham- crash caused a safety car ately ignored the miscon-
pion. to come in with Massa in duct that stripped him of
Massa, who was the run- the lead and squandered that title,” the letter states.
ner-up to Lewis Hamilton in his advantage. Massa’s letter was triggered
the 2008 season, made his A calamitous pit stop at by an interview of former
claim in a letter sent to the the Ferrari boxes soon after F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone,
FIA in the first step of a le- cost the Brazilian the race, who said in March that he
gal battle to take place in where he finished 13th. was aware of Piquet’s de-
Britain. McLaren’s Hamilton fin- liberate crash in that same
A member of Massa’s man- ished third in Singapore. year but chose not to in- Williams driver Felipe Massa, of Brazil, attends a press conference
agement team told The The British driver went on to vestigate it until Hamilton ahead of Sunday’s Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, at the
Associated Press the letter lift the first of his seven titles received the season’s title Interlagos racetrack, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 9, 2017.
Associated Press
was also sent to Formula that year with a dramatic at an FIA ceremony.q