Sha'Carri Richardson, the fastest woman alive, gets Dallas ISD track named after her

DALLAS - Sha'Carri Richardson, the fastest woman in the world, now has a Dallas ISD track named after her.

John Kincade Stadium officially named its track after the world champion sprinter Friday morning.

Excitement was in the air at the celebration for naming the athletic track.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and others celebrated Richardson's success story.

All who run after Richardson on the track will now run under her name.

"I see that little girl who stood right here at Kincade. I told my mama I want to be great. I told my godparents I want to be better. I told my family I want to take care of them, and being right here in that moment, able to look back and see that I’m able to do that and more, I don't want to stop," Richardson said.

Richardson ran track at Carter, where she was an eight-time state champion. but attended Kathleen Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, graduating with 50 college hours

"It makes me feel very, very proud. Not just of the athlete, but of the whole person," Richardson’s high school principal, Gayle Ferguson, said.

"Who was your track and field role model?" a student asked Richardson.

"My track and field role models would have to be Wilma Rudolph, and I would say Flo-Jo for them overcoming adversities, overcoming moments where they felt as if they were defined by the world," Richardson answered.

The 23-year-old has had her own moment. Richardson was banned from competing in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana.

"I did have a moment that could have crushed me beyond measures, but in that moment, I chose better. I chose to be wiser. I chose to allow that moment to build me," she said.

Richardson won the women's 100-meter world title in August in Budapest, Hungary, with a time of 10.65 seconds, a record for the event at the World Championships.

Her title at the World Championships is redemption.

On Friday, she encouraged students to remain true to themselves.

"I'm so honored, I will try not to cry," Richardson said. "I'm excited to continue to inspire my city because Dallas is the best."

High honors for a hometown girl whose story is still being written

"Dallas, Texas. We not back, we're better," Richardson said.

Dallas ISD said the honor serves as a tribute to Richardson's outstanding achievements in the community and the world of sports.

The City of Dallas issued a proclamation saying November 10, 2023, is Sha'Carri Richardson Day.