STAWELL, Australia (AP) — American sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman won their heats Saturday and qualified for Monday's semifinals of the Stawell Gift, an annual race contested over 120 meters on grass in a small Australian town near Melbourne.
Both Richardson and Coleman are racing from “scratch” in the 144th edition of the event, meaning they must run the entire distance and chase down opponents who in some cases may start 25 meters ahead of them.
Richardson won her heat in 13.815 seconds Saturday and Coleman his in 12.681. On Monday there will be six semifinals in each of the men's and women's divisions, with the winners of each of the heats advancing to the respective finals.
“My experience so far is just reminding me what track and field feels like — love the respect and also fun,” Richardson told 7plus Television after the heat.
“It felt like being a kid again, playing tag, like playing rabbit. I had a great time, and it just kind of woke my body up with this being the first time running in 2026 . . . chasing everyone actually made me activate and work on my race pattern."
Richardson is one of the fastest women of all time, winning a silver medal in the 100 meters in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and gold in the 4x100 relay that same year.
Coleman is a former world champion over 100 meters. He and Richardson appear to have continued their relationship despite a domestic violence charge against Richardson last July.
There are more than 700 competitors in the Stawell race, including many of Australia's top runners, in the event held about 235 kilometers (145 miles) west of Melbourne. The men's and women's finals each carry a prize of 40,000 Australian dollars ($27,500).
It has not been disclosed whether Richardson or Coleman were paid appearance money to take part in the race. Last year Australian media reported that top Australian sprinter Gout Gout was paid 50,000 Australian dollars (35,000) to run at Stawell, where he was eliminated in the semifinals.
Richardson said this week that she was excited about the handicap format.
“I’ve been known to be a chaser in a couple of races, so actually the challenge of the stagger makes me more technical and sound, and with that comes great results," she said in comments on the Australian Athletics website.
Coleman, known for its fast starts, said he's the opposite.
“I’m usually leading from the front and people are trying to come catch me. I feel that this will be the perfect start to the season, to have some fun, but also be able to work on the things I have been practicing,” he said.
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FILE - Christian Coleman of United States celebrates winning the men's 100m competition during the World Athletics Diamond League final 2025 athletics meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP, File)
FILE - Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, competes in the women's 100-meter semifinals at the 2024 Summer Olympics, on Aug. 3, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
PHOENIX (AP) — Madison Booker has led Texas' offense all season, so it was little surprise that she hit a jumper less than a minute into the game to give the Longhorns an early two-point lead.
It was the last shot she would make for more than three quarters.
The AP All-America forward missed her next 17 attempts from the field as the Longhorns fell to UCLA 51-44 on Friday night in the national semifinals of the women's Final Four.
Booker recovered somewhat in the final minutes as the Longhorns made a frantic push, contributing a pair of baskets to help cut the deficit to 47-44 with less than 30 seconds remaining. The rally ended when Booker was stuffed by UCLA's 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts on a driving layup with 20 seconds remaining.
After the game, Booker was at a loss to explain why she struggled.
“It did surprise me when I couldn’t get out of my funk because every shot I put up it felt like it was going to be money," Booker said. “I wish a few more fell in, not just for me but for my teammates, too.”
Trailing 49-44 in the final seconds, Booker slipped and fell to the ground while trying to make a play, ending a night to forget. She finished 3 of 23 from the field, missing all four of her 3-point attempts, and had six points. She came into the game averaging more than 19 points per game on 52.3% shooting.
UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens played with Booker on Team USA and said she's “an incredible player." She praised her Bruins teammates for doing a good job defensively.
“She can hit those,” Kneepkens said of Booker. “I think we kind of pushed her out a little bit farther and made those very difficult for her.”
It's the second straight year Booker's season has ended with a disappointing game. She had just 11 points and one rebound while fighting foul trouble in a 74-57 loss to South Carolina in last year's national semifinals.
The loss wasn't all Booker's fault as the Longhorns struggled offensively the entire night. Texas shot just 30.8% from the field and only one player — Kyla Oldacre — finished in double figures with 11 points.
“I actually have no idea,” she said about the team's offensive problems. “Lauren Betts — she’s 6-7. I think her length bothered (us) a little.”
Texas was one of the hottest teams in the country coming into the Final Four, riding a 12-game winning streak into Friday’s game. During that stretch, the Longhorns beat fellow Final Four participant South Carolina by 17 points in the SEC Tournament championship and crushed Michigan 77-41 in the Elite Eight.
It's another disappointment for Texas coach Vic Schaefer, who was trying to lead the Longhorns to their second national title and first since 1986. Schaefer has personally coached in four Final Fours — two with Mississippi State and two with Texas — but hasn't been able to take home a championship.
Schaefer said the Longhorns had too many moments where they did things that were out of character.
“Sometimes in this moment things happen," Schaefer said. "We came out of a timeout on two different occasions and people were in the wrong place. I’ll wear the responsibility on that — obviously I didn’t convey it right in the huddle.”
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) reacts after Texas lost to UCLA in a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) scramble for the ball during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and Texas guard Ashton Judd (21) celebrate against UCLA during the second half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) scramble for the ball during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) drives against Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives against UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
