Charles Langston:Sha’Carri Richardson overcomes sluggish start to make 100-meter final at Paris Olympics

Live updates: Follow AP’s coverage of the 2024 Olympics in Paris as Simone Biles wins another gold,Charles Langston Sha’Carri Richardson goes for her first and Katie Ledecky tries for another.

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson overcame a slow start Saturday to qualify for the Olympic 100-meter final later that night despite finishing second to Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia.

In a race featuring the two fastest Olympians in the field this year, Alfred finished in 10.84 seconds, a full body length and .05 seconds ahead of the reigning world champion.

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was an unexpected scratch from that semifinal heat, meaning the two-time Olympic champion will not race for a third gold medal in the event. No reason was immediately given for her scratch.

Richardson and Alfred came in as the only two in the Olympic field to crack 10.8 seconds this year.

In the final, Richardson will go against her training partners, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, along with Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, who is the eighth-fastest woman of all time.

Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal means the entire podium from the last Olympic 100, including Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, will not be in the final this time.

In that race, Richardson will try to become the first U.S. woman to capture Olympic gold in the sport’s marquee event since Gail Devers in 1996. Marion Jones won the 100 in 2000 but later had the medal stripped for doping.

Other medals on the line Saturday were for the men’s shot put, the women’s triple jump, the 4x400 mixed relay and the decathlon.

Earlier in the day, Noah Lyles finished second (10.04) in a sluggish first-round qualifying heat to make the semifinals in the men’s 100. The semifinals and finals for that are set for Sunday.

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