Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson has pleaded not guilty after she was arrested andaccused of super speedingin Florida last week.
Richardson, 25, an Olympic gold medalist, pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of dangerous excessive speeding of 100 mph or more, according to Orange County court records.
She was pulled over on Jan. 29 and accused of hitting speeds of 104 mph on State Road 429 in the area of Stoney Brook Parkway in Winter Park, which has a posted speed limit of 65 mph, according to the arrest affidavit.
Richardson changed lanes several times, flashed her lights at other cars and drove too close to other vehicles, the affidavit said.
After the Orange County Sheriff's Office pulled her over, she said she was speeding because a back tire was underinflated. She said that her car was new and that she did not mean to go the speed she was traveling, the affidavit said.
Shortly afterward, fellow Olympian Christian Coleman, 29, stopped his black Jeep on the shoulder of the road in front of Richardson's car. He told the deputy he was her boyfriend and walked into the area of the traffic stop, the filing said.
At first he complied with orders to wait by his car, but later he returned and defended Richardson's driving, it said.
Later, another vehicle, driven by fellow Olympic sprinter Twanisha Terry, stopped on the side of the road. Terry, 27, was also told to wait by her car, but both she and Coleman started to speak with Richardson, the affidavit said.
Both were cited for stopping on a limited access highway. Terry complied with the deputy and presented her identification, was cited and left the scene, the affidavit said.
Coleman refused to identify himself and was arrested on a charge of resisting, the affidavit said.
Inside his car, a sergeant found "a glass smoking device" with "green leafy plant material clinging to the bowl area" in the center console, the affidavit said.
Coleman was issued citations for stopping on a limited access roadway and having an expired registration over six months. He was further charged with resisting an officer without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also pleaded not guilty Monday, court records show.
He and Richardson were taken to the Orange County Booking and Release Center, and both were released after they posted bond that day. Their attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Court records did not list an attorney for Terry. A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
USA Track and Field said it had no comment Wednesday.
