Top 5 fastest women in 100m in 2024 leading up to the Paris Olympics ft. Sha'Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson
Sha'Carri Richardson has been in blazing form in 2024, ahead of the Summer Olympics that are set to start on July 26 in Paris, France. While she didn't have a good start to the outdoor season, which she started with 200m, the world champion announced herself as the woman to beat in Paris over the 100m after running a blistering 10.83s in her season opener.
While the American heads into the Paris Olympics as the favorite for the 100m gold, she will face some obstacles. Her training partner, Melissa Jefferson, and the Jamaicans, as usual, will pose a serious threat to her hopes of winning the gold.
Fastest 100m women of 2024 season ahead of Paris Olympics
#5 Shericka Jackson (10.84)
Shericka Jackson is the fifth fastest 100m runner of 2024, with a time of 10.84s she clocked at the Jamaica Olympic Trials. The Olympic medalist has shown good progression this year, running 11.03, 10.99, and 10.87 before the fifth fastest time of 2024 in the 100m finals. Jackson holds a personal best of 10.65 over 100m, similar to that of Sha'Carri Richardson, and is one of the top contenders for a podium finish at Paris Olympics 2024.
#4 Melissa Jefferson (10.80)
Melissa Jefferson has positioned herself as a strong medal contender at the Paris Olympics after going from 11.43s in her season opener to 10.80s at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials. She has run three sub-11 timings this year, all three coming at the Olympic trials. Jefferson’s 10.80s finish is personal best over the distance.
#3 Julian Alfred (10.78)
Julian Alfred will be Sha'Carri Richardson’s second big threat to the Olympic gold dream in Paris after Shericka Jackson. The Saint Lucian runner ran a blazing time of 10.78s at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica. It also marks her personal best over the distance. Alfred has only run thrice this season, clocking 11.15, 10.93 and 10.78, respectively.
#2 Jacious Sears ( 10.77)
Jacious Sears is the second fastest woman in 2024, leading up to the Paris Olympics. She clocked 10.77s early in the season at Tom Jones Memorial Invitational. While it also marks her personal best over the distance, her performances since haven't quite matched that initial brilliance, with times of 11.09 and 11.73.
#1 Sha'Carri Richardson (10.71)
Sha'Carri Richardson heads into her maiden Olympic Games as the fastest woman over the 100m in 2024. She opened her season with a blazing 10.83 run at the Prefontaine Classic. Richardson then clocked the fastest 100m of 2024 in the 100m finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 10.71s. With a personal best of 10.65s, the American is a strong favorite for a medal, possibly even gold, in Paris.