STAWELL, Australia (AP) — American sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson surged through the field Monday to win the Stawell Gift, an annual race contested on handicap over 120 meters on grass in a small Australian town near Melbourne.
In the 144th edition of the event, Richardson provided one of its most breathtaking finales as she started at scratch and caught the field at the 90-meter mark before pulling away for an astonishing win in 13.15 seconds.
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Christian Coleman from the U.S. races in the semifinals of the men's Stawell Gift in Stawell, Australia, Monday, April 6, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
Sha'Carri Richardson of the U.S., holds her trophy as she celebrates winning the women's Stawell Gift in Stawell, Australia, Monday, April 6, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
Sha'Carri Richardson of the U.S., second left, celebrates winning the women's Stawell Gift in Stawell, Australia, Monday, April 6, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
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)
“Just make sure I’m patient that first 10-meters like my coach today told me, and just executing the rest,” Richardson told Seven Network television post race. “I think I realized I was gonna win right past 90.”
The 26-year-old American, one of the fastest women of all time, is just the third woman to win the race from scratch and claimed a prize of 40,000 Australian dollars ($27,500).
Richardson won a silver medal in the 100 meters in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and gold in the 4x100 relay that same year. She also claimed the 100-meter title at the 2023 World Championships.
After a near calamity in the semifinals earlier Monday, where Richardson rose too soon and was almost pipped on the line, the American made no errors in the final, chasing down the field early and running through the line powerfully.
She celebrated with fans before embracing boyfriend and former world champion Christian Coleman, who was the marquee name of the men's draw. She and Coleman remain in a relationship despite a domestic violence charge against Richardson last July.
“This is one of the most exciting, fun, and entertaining track meets I’ve ever ran in, not even just that, but the love, the true love and support for track and field, unbeatable,” she said.
Former 100-meter World Champion, Coleman failed to qualify for the men's final after finishing sixth in his semifinal earlier Monday with 12.48 seconds. Only the winners of the six semifinals for both the men's and women's division qualified for the respective finals.
Both Richardson and Coleman raced from “scratch” meaning they were required to run the entire distance and chase down opponents, which proved too much of a gulf to bridge for Coleman, despite him closing the gap appreciably in the latter stages of his heat.
“Yeah, it is what it is, but I mean, I gave it everything I got, like you said, they’re great athletes, so when you’re giving up that much of a margin, I mean, it’s pretty tough,” Coleman said to Seven Network television.
Australian Olufemi Komolafe won the men’s Stawell Gift ahead of Jake Ireland and Dutchman Liam van der Schaaf.
Earlier Monday, Richardson powered through the field to win her semifinal by just 0.007 seconds after she leaned back at the finish allowing local Halle Martin to almost steal the race in a photo finish.
“I feel like I am having a great time, but also working on race pattern, me and my coach Dennis Mitchell staying calm, executing, and running through the line,” Richardson said after the semifinal.
In Saturday’s heats, Richardson, who gave away 10 meters to her closest competitor at the start, won her heat in 13.815 seconds Saturday and Coleman his in 12.681.
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.
It has not been disclosed whether Richardson or Coleman have been 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.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Christian Coleman from the U.S. races in the semifinals of the men's Stawell Gift in Stawell, Australia, Monday, April 6, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
Sha'Carri Richardson of the U.S., holds her trophy as she celebrates winning the women's Stawell Gift in Stawell, Australia, Monday, April 6, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
Sha'Carri Richardson of the U.S., second left, celebrates winning the women's Stawell Gift in Stawell, Australia, Monday, April 6, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
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)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry swished a 3-pointer on his second shot from deep and raised his arms in delight when the ball went through.
He was looking to do the same on the last possession with Golden State down a point, but missed a long, straightaway 3-pointer.
No matter the result, Curry is back and healthy at long last for the Warriors after a right knee injury, and everyone at Chase Center celebrated right along with him in Golden State’s 117-116 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
Coming off the bench in the regular season for the first time in 14 years, Curry was greeted by a warm standing ovation and greetings on the big screen — he also expressed his gratitude on video — when he entered with 4:54 left in the opening quarter.
He immediately passed off for an assist on a dunk by Charles Bassey, who just signed with Golden State earlier in the day. Curry made a 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining in the period.
Curry finished with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting and became the 26th player in NBA history with 9,000 field goals. He was 5 of 10 on 3s, playing 26 minutes.
Fans chanted “We want Steph! We want Steph!” during the fourth quarter, seemingly unaware of his minutes restriction.
This marked the first time he has come off the bench in a regular-season game since March 7, 2012, against Memphis. He last was a reserve in Game 4 of the first round of the 2022 playoffs during the Warriors’ last championship run.
Curry's pregame warmup is always a must-see show long before the main event, and the cheers were extra loud for his latest session now that he's finally back on the floor.
He was cheered pregame, too, and set to play about 25 minutes following a two-plus-month absence and 27 straight games sidelined because of a right knee injury.
He signed a few autographs after his shooting routine then missed his full-court heave before disappearing into the tunnel.
“He's one of the most beloved players in league history, Bay Area history in any sport and I think a long absence like this reminds everybody how lucky we are to see him, to watch him, to coach him, to play with him,” coach Steve Kerr said. “So tonight's a special night because we're reminded of how lucky we've been and how lucky we still are.”
Kerr said before the game that it's still unclear how many of the remaining games Curry will play given Golden State has five contests in eight days with a back-to-back the rest of the way — and the expectation is he wouldn't play on consecutive nights.
“We're going to manage it accordingly. The plan for tonight would be shorter bursts and we'll see on the minutes,” Kerr said. “But first game back he's not playing 48 minutes.”
The schedule will be determined by how Curry feels and input from Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka knew Houston would have its hands full with No. 30 back.
“One of the best movers in the game. Four other guys at a time are concentrated on getting shots for him, so that’s not just one guy, and then does a good job in general with all the screens, off-ball actions, and pick-and-rolls,” Udoka said. "It’s a team effort. We need to be locked in on that, and obviously we’ve seen him enough and know some things that have hurt us in the past, and we need to prepare for that with him coming back.”
Curry scrimmaged several times this past week to test his injured right knee, and he said Saturday it was never a consideration to shut it down for the rest of the season. Kerr hoped to have Curry and younger brother Seth finally play together.
When Stephen Curry re-entered the game at the 6:19 mark of the second quarter, they did — the first time brothers played together in Warriors franchise history, according to Elias. Seth Curry also has been injured much of the season.
Seth Curry did appear in six preseason games for Golden State in 2013 then played for the team’s G League Santa Cruz Warriors that year — with the brothers playing all of 100 seconds together during the fourth quarter of two games during that ’13 preseason.
Kerr had said Saturday that Stephen Curry was expected to play for the first time since Jan. 30 against Detroit, though the Warriors listed him as questionable.
Curry warmed up in Kevin Durant's “Scoring Title” Nike KD 4s with former teammate Durant playing for the Rockets.
After Saturday's practice, Curry said dealing with the pain is part of his “new normal” and the offseason will require a significant reset.
The 38-year-old Curry initially expected to be playing right after the All-Star break, but the recovery was prolonged by some difficult moments when he would feel good, push hard then pay for it the following day.
The Warriors (36-42) lost their fourth straight game. They were 13-25 this season without Curry — including 9-18 during the recent stretch with him sidelined by patellofemoral pain syndrome.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) is hugged by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry looks toward the Houston Rockets bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, shoots a 3-point basket over Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, left, kicks a pass by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Fans watch as Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, foreground, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos, from left, reacts from the sideline with Quinten Post, Seth Curry, Will Richard and Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, smiles while shaking hands with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, smiles while talking with Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) and guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
