Sha’Carri Richardson wins 2026 Stawell Gift from scratch in record time
Consensus Summary
Sha’Carri Richardson dominated the 2026 Stawell Gift, winning the women’s 120m race from scratch in a record 13.15 seconds on April 6 in Stawell, Victoria. Starting with no handicap, she overcame a 9-metre head start given to Charlotte Nielsen, who finished second in 13.19–13.20s. Richardson, an Olympic gold medallist and world champion, became the third woman to win the $40,000 prize from scratch, crediting her coach for race execution and noting she knew she had the lead at the 90m mark. Her semi-final was a near-photo finish, decided by 0.007 seconds over Halle Martin. In the men’s final, Olufemi Komolafe won in 11.93–12.03s off a 5m handicap, while Christian Coleman, Richardson’s partner, missed the final after finishing fifth in his semi. The event highlighted the unique challenges of grass racing, with elite sprinters adapting to unconventional conditions. Richardson called the experience ‘glorified practice’ but acknowledged it set up her season, while Komolafe cited Coleman as his motivation to compete.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Sha’Carri Richardson won the 2026 Stawell Gift women’s 120m race from scratch (0m handicap) in 13.15 seconds, setting a new women’s record for the event.
- Charlotte Nielsen finished second in 13.19 seconds (or 13.20s per Guardian) with a 9m handicap, the second-fastest time ever run by a woman at the Stawell Gift.
- Richardson became the third woman to win the $40,000 Stawell Gift from scratch.
- The event took place on April 6, 2026, in Stawell, Victoria, with finals held on Monday.
- Christian Coleman, Richardson’s partner, missed the men’s final after finishing fifth in his semi-final (scratch) in 12.32s, losing to Grady Woods.
- Olufemi Komolafe, a 21-year-old medical student from Adelaide, won the men’s final in 12.03s (or 11.93s per Guardian) off a 5m handicap.
- Richardson stated she knew she had the race won at the 90m mark, crediting her coach Denis Mitchell for her race execution.
- Richardson’s semi-final was decided by 0.007 seconds (7 thousandths) over Halle Martin, with Richardson finishing in 13.52s.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Richardson’s boyfriend Christian Coleman inspired Olufemi Komolafe to take running seriously, and Komolafe cited a hamstring injury risk as a factor in his aggressive training.
- Coleman mentioned he felt he could have caught Grady Woods if the race were longer (130m or 150m).
- Coleman’s semi-final time was 12.32s, and he described the race as tough due to the grass and margin given to others.
- Richardson’s semi-final was won by just 1 millimetre over Halle Martin (13.52s).
- Grace Crowe’s false start in the final forced her to move back 1 metre (to 3.25m), slightly aiding Richardson’s chase.
- No unique details beyond the headline and record time (13.15s).
- Richardson’s semi-final was nearly lost due to standing tall instead of leaning forward at the line, a habit she said she was working on with her coach.
- Chiara Santiglia finished third in the final with 13.36s.
- The Stawell Gift was described as a ‘stark change’ for elite sprinters, with grass tracks and unconventional setups (e.g., banging blocks with a mallet).
- Komolafe’s winning time was listed as 11.93s (vs. 12.03s in THEAGE).
- Richardson’s heat time on Saturday was 13.815s, ahead of Lilliana Hoffman (14.060s).
- Richardson described her heat win as feeling ‘like being a kid again playing tag’ and said it ‘woke her body up’ for the season.
- Coleman edged John Howe by 0.01 seconds in his men’s heat.
- Charlotte Nielsen had the fastest women’s heat time (13.32s) with a 9m handicap.
- Olufemi Komolafe’s fastest men’s heat time was 12.11s off 5m.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian reports Olufemi Komolafe’s winning time as 11.93s, while THEAGE reports 12.03s.
- Charlotte Nielsen’s second-place time is listed as 13.19s in THEAGE and 13.20s in the Guardian.
- ABC states Coleman’s semi-final time was 12.32s (matching THEAGE), but THEAGE does not specify his exact time beyond losing to Grady Woods.
- The Guardian mentions a false start by Grace Crowe forcing her to move back 1 metre, but THEAGE does not explicitly confirm this as a factor in the final.
Source Articles
Sha’Carri Richardson produces Stawell run for the ages to win from scratch
The American sprint star arrived in Stawell feted as the fastest woman on the planet, and proved that was true in a stunning race from the rear of the field, while in the men’s race a medical student from Adelaide got the chocolates at the time-honoured Easter race.
Sprint sensation Sha'Carri Richardson sets new record in Stawell Gift
The Olympic medallist took out the historic 120m handicap race in western Victoria in 13.15 seconds.
US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson wins 2026 Stawell Gift off scratch in thrilling finish
American crosses in 13.15s ahead of Australia’s Charlotte Nielsen Olufemi Komolafe wins men’s final without US’s Christian Coleman American sprint queen Sha’Carri Richardson has lived up to her star status as she chased down the field off scratch to win the 2026 Stawell Gift in a thrilling finish. The Olympic 100m silver medallist and sixth-fastest woman in the world joined hundreds of local spectators and athletes in the small rural town 200km north-west of Melbourne on Monday to take part in t
Sha'Carri Richardson wins Stawell Gift from scratch
American sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson has become the third woman ever to win the famous Stawell Gift from scratch.
Aerial view of American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson winning her Stawell Gift heat - video
USA sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson has cruised into the Stawell Gift semi-final, comfortably winning her heat on Saturday afternoon. The Paris Olympic 100m silver medallist started from scratch but powered past the field, easing up before the line once victory was assured Continue reading...
Watch as the Olympic silver medallist destroys the Stawell Gift field
US sprint couple Sha'Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman win their Stawell Gift heats, with a drone shot showing Richardson's dominance from the back marker.
More Sport stories
Sydney Swans players linked to sexual assault allegations and club sanctions
Australia vs Bangladesh Test series in 2026, featuring historic upsets and batting struggles
Jeff Bezos-led consortium acquires Liverpool FC stake
Arthur Fery and Alex de Minaur clash at Cincinnati Masters 1000 after Wimbledon run
Australia's Lani Pallister dominates Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2026, breaking Katie Ledecky's streak
Death of 19-year-old cyclist Finlay Tarling during Volta a Portugal stage 8
Latest cross-verified stories
Ukraine targets Wildberries warehouses and Russian infrastructure with drone strikes amid escalating war
Meta trial over social media addiction in children begins in California
Prince Harry and others ordered to pay legal costs to Daily Mail publisher after losing privacy lawsuit
Mass bird deaths linked to H5 bird flu in Australia’s southern states
Australia’s largest gun buyback scheme after Bondi terror attack
Natalie Harp’s rise as Trump’s loyal aide and recent media scrutiny over her role
Browse all stories from April 2026 in the archive.