Olympic champion Julien Alfred underlined her status as favorite after cruising through the women’s 100m heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday. The Saint Lucian sprint queen, fresh from delivering her country’s first Olympic gold in Paris last year, looked sharp and composed as she stopped the clock at 10.93 seconds.
In-form American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden also stamped her authority on the event, qualifying third fastest overall in 10.73 seconds, while Jamaica’s Tina Clayton followed closely behind. Retiring sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, fellow Jamaican Shericka Jackson, and Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith all progressed comfortably to set up a blockbuster final.
Full Results – Women’s 100m Heats
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 10.73 Q (+0.2)
- Tina Clayton (JAM) – 10.90 Q (+0.2)
- Julien Alfred (LCA) – 10.93 Q (+0.1)
- Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) – 10.94 Q (-0.3)
- Shericka Jackson (JAM) – 10.97 Q (-0.3)
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) – 11.00 Q (+0.1)
- Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) – 11.00 qSB (-0.3)
- Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) – 11.02 q (+0.2)
- Amy Hunt (GBR) – 11.05 (+0.1)
- Daryll Neita (GBR) – 11.06 (-0.3)
- Twanisha Terry (USA) – 11.07 (+0.1)
- Zoe Hobbs (NZL) – 11.09 (+0.1)
- Gina Lückenkemper (GER) – 11.11 (+0.2)
- Torrie Lewis (AUS) – 11.14 (+0.2)
- Anthaya Charlton (BAH) – 11.14 (+0.1)
- Liranyi Alonso (DOM) – 11.16 (-0.3)
- Kayla White (USA) – 11.20 (-0.3)
- Zaynab Dosso (ITA) – 11.22 (+0.2)
- Thelma Davies (LBR) – 11.24 (+0.2)
- Salomé Kora (SUI) – 11.30 (-0.3)
- Boglárka Takács (HUN) – 11.32 (-0.3)
- Audrey Leduc (CAN) – 11.34 (+0.2)
- Géraldine Frey (SUI) – 11.34 (+0.1)
- Ewa Swoboda (POL) – 11.36 (+0.1)
Sha’Carri Richardson, however, endured an anxious wait after faltering at the start in her heat, clocking 11.00 seconds. The American star missed out on an automatic qualifying spot but sneaked through as one of the fastest losers, alongside Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who timed 11.02 seconds.
With Alfred, Jefferson-Wooden, and a trio of Jamaican powerhouses all advancing, the final promises fireworks as Tokyo braces for another epic showdown in women’s sprinting.