Sha’Carri Richardson addresses an audience of Dallas ISD students during a Nov. 10 ceremony that named the day after the female athlete. Photo courtesy of DISD.
“Everything happens when it’s supposed to happen.”
That was the message of Sha’Carri Richardson’s acceptance speech at Saturday’s USATF Night of Legends awards, where Richardson was recognized as the 2023 U.S. Track and Field Female Athlete of the Year.
“As I stand here today as your world champion, it’s because now was the time for it to happen. Now is the most impactful it would be, the most powerful it would be and the most sincere it would be,” the track star said after receiving the award. “I understand the influence that I have, and I understand the responsibility that I have to USATF as a top female athlete.”
Named the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award, the Female Athlete of the Year award has been given annually since 2013 to the best female athlete in the sport.
2023 has been a year of accolades for Richardson.
In August, the Carter alumna became a world champion after breaking the women’s World Athletic Championship’s record for fastest 100m race, running 10.65 seconds. The race was also her personal best time in the 100m.
In October, DISD Trustees unanimously voted to name the track field at John Kincade Stadium after the athlete, who was left “speechless” by the honor. The dedication was proposed to the trustees to “serve as a tribute to Richardson’s remarkable achievements in sports and significant ties to the Dallas community.”
In the naming ceremony held on Nov. 10, city officials announced that Nov. 10 will be recognized as Sha’Carri Richardson Day.
Richardson is expected to be a major player on the track during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
“I feel like I’ve shown that as long as you’re yourself and as long as you work hard … you can still get the job done,” Richardson said.
