SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson blazed through a no-fuss opening round in the 100 meters Friday, winning her first-ever race at the Olympics in 10.94 seconds to easily qualify for the semifinals.
The American captured the first of eight first-round races on the opening day of track action at a jam-packed Stade de France.
Unlike Olympic trials earlier this month, Richardson got off to a nice start, kicked into overdrive and cruised into the finish, tapping her chest with her hands as she crossed the line.
She’ll race in the semifinals Saturday night, and if she advances there, she’ll go for gold a few hours later.
The reigning world champion — aiming to become the first American since Gail Devers in 1996 to win Olympic 100m gold — sailed through her heat in 10.94sec.
The 24-year-old Texan burst out of the blocks smoothly and was quickly into her stride before pulling away early on and then shutting it down well before the finish line to loud applause.
Richardson is competing in Paris three years after her dreams of Olympic gold in Tokyo were wrecked by a positive test for marijuana following her victory at US trials.
However the flamboyant track star roared back to the pinnacle of her sport with a surprise victory at last year’s World Championships in Budapest and is considered the hot favourite for her event in Paris.
Jamaica’s reigning Olympic 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah is unable to compete in Paris due to injury, while another Jamaican, Shericka Jackson, has withdrawn from the event to concentrate on the 200m.
That leaves Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred as Richardson’s main rival. Alfred won her heat in 10.95sec on Friday but declined to speak to reporters following the race.
Richardson will return for Saturday’s semi-finals where she will be aiming to reach the final later in the day to claim one of the first high-profile golds of the athletics competition.
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