Sha'Carri Richardson Secures Historic Victory at 2026 Stawell Gift
American sprint sensation Sha'Carri Richardson has delivered a stunning performance to win the 2026 Stawell Gift, setting a new record time of 13.15 seconds in the women's 120m handicap grass race. The Olympic 100m silver medallist, starting from scratch, showcased her elite speed in a nail-biting finish at Central Park in Stawell, a small rural town located approximately 200km north-west of Melbourne.
A Thrilling Race Against the Clock
In the final, Richardson, aged 26 and hailing from Texas, crossed the line just ahead of Australia's Charlotte Nielsen, who finished in 13.20 seconds, and Chiara Santiglia in 13.36 seconds. The victory was hard-fought, with Nielsen leading for most of the race thanks to a nine-metre handicap start, only for Richardson to close the gap dramatically in the final metres. This win marks Richardson as the third woman ever to triumph from scratch in the event's history, earning her a substantial $40,000 in prize money.
The race nearly didn't happen for Richardson after a close call in her semi-final. She eased up too early, standing tall instead of dipping at the line, and advanced by a mere seven thousandths of a second over Halle Martin. Reflecting on this, Richardson acknowledged working with her coach, Dennis Mitchell, to improve her finish technique, though she again appeared to stand up rather than lean forward in the final, winning by just five hundredths of a second.
Unexpected Twists and Competitor Reactions
The final saw an early disruption when 17-year-old Grace Crowe, in the lane next to Richardson, false-started. Crowe was penalised by moving her blocks back one metre to 3.25m, inadvertently giving Richardson a closer target to chase from her 0m start. After the race, Richardson expressed her gratitude, stating, "I think I realised I was going to win right past 90 [metres]. The love, the support, the true enjoyment that I had on the track ... I know everybody's having here. Y'all made this moment happen. So thank you."
For Nielsen, second place came with a $6,250 consolation prize, and her time would have secured first in every previous edition of the race, highlighting the exceptional level of competition this year. The Stawell Gift presented a unique challenge for elite sprinters like Richardson and her partner, Christian Coleman, with its grass track and makeshift setup using flags strung between wheelie bins, a stark contrast to professional stadium environments.
Men's Final Highlights and Absent Stars
In the men's 120m final, Australian Olufemi Komolafe claimed victory in an impressive 11.93 seconds off a five-metre start, with Jake Ireland finishing second in 12.07 seconds. Komolafe, a 21-year-old fourth-year medical student, expressed disappointment at not competing against his "idol" Christian Coleman, who had motivated him to enter the race. Coleman failed to qualify for the final, placing fifth in his semi-final from scratch. Reflecting on his performance, Coleman said, "I gave it everything I got. You give them that much of a margin, it's pretty tough. I hope everybody continues to watch and support [athletics]. I'm definitely looking forward to a really good season, trying to improve over that last 40 to 100. And so I feel really good about it."
This event underscores the global appeal of the Stawell Gift, attracting top international talent and delivering unforgettable moments in athletics. Richardson's record-breaking win not only cements her status as a sprint star but also adds a thrilling chapter to the race's storied history.
