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Richardson won her heat in 10.94 seconds, three
years after her Olympic dreams came crashing down around her
when she tested positive for cannabis and had to miss the Tokyo
Games, while twice champion Fraser-Pryce (10.92) finished second
in her heat.
"I've been having fun," said the American. "This is just the
biggest stage to see that I have the most fun."
Asked if the run marked redemption for not being allowed to run
in Tokyo, Richardson said she was focused on the present after
fans cheered at the Stade de France the moment she appeared on
the starting line.
Running out of lane six, the 24-year-old easily took the lead by
the midway point and glided through the finish before quickly
exiting the purple track.
""We're not talking about the past - we're talking about what's
happening right now," said Richardson.
"I'm honoured to be here and I'm having a lot of fun and you're
going to continue to watch as well."
She will compete in the semi-finals on Saturday, with the medal
race set for later that evening. The top three in each heat
advance, along with the next three fastest across all heats.
World leader Richardson is the United States' brightest hope of
ending a 28-year gold medal drought in the women's blue riband
event, after Gail Devers last won in 1996. Marion Jones was
stripped of her 2000 Olympic gold medal for doping.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of Ivory Coast had the fastest time on
Friday with 10.87, as she held off Fraser-Pryce down the home
stretch in a thrilling final heat. She is hungry for a spot on
the podium after fourth-place finishes in the last two Games.
Britain's Daryll Neita won her heat in 10.92, while her
compatriot, twice Olympic relay bronze medallist Dina
Asher-Smith, moved on in 11.01.
"The crowd is amazing, just came out to get through. There are a
lot of British fans," said Asher-Smith, the world silver
medallist in 2019. "I'm just having so much fun."
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia (10.95), Canadian Audrey Leduc
(10.95) and Melissa Jefferson (10.96) of the United States also
went through.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Paris; Editing by Toby Davis and
Ken Ferris) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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