Richardson breezes to win in 100m, books Tokyo berth

EUGENE: An emotional Sha’carri Richardson surged to 100m victory at the US Olympic track and field trials in Oregon on Saturday, punching her ticket to Tokyo in 10.86 seconds.

The 21-year-old Texan streaked over the line at Hayward Field and moments later revealed that her win came ater a week in which she learned of the death of her biological mother.

A jubilant Richardson leapt into the stands to share an embrace with her grandmother and other family members following her victory.

“This year has been crazy for me,” Richardson said aterwards.

“I’m still here, last week finding out my biological mother passed away. And still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still making the family that I do have on this earth proud.”

Richardson said sharing her win with her grandmother, family and coaches had carried extra meaning.

Earlier, Richardson had started slowly and trailed Javianne Oliver at the halfway stage.

But she hit the front with 30 metres to go, and pulled clear to score a decisive victory.

Oliver finished second in 10.99sec while Teahna Daniels was third in 11.03.

Richardson is the second fastest woman in the world over 100m this year, running a 10.72sec in April.

Only Jamaica’s Shelly-ann Fraser-pryce has run quicker, the two-time Olympic champion running 10.63sec in Kingston earlier this month.

Richardson however showed on Saturday that she is ready to give Fraser-pryce a serious challenge at next month’s Olympics.

Her winning time in Saturday’s final came despite running into negative headwind. In the semi-finals earlier Saturday she had run a blistering but wind-assisted 10.64.

BROMELL, FELIX ADVANCE: Richardson’s victory capped a second day of action that mostly followed the form book.

In the men’s 100m opening heats, Trayvon Bromell, the fastest man in the world this year, comfortably advanced to the semi-finals with a wind-assisted 9.84sec

With world champion Christian Coleman suspended due to a drugs ban, Bromell is widely regarded as the favourite for gold at the Tokyo Olympics ater batling back from a series of career-threatening injuries.

Veteran Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m gold medallist who is bidding to make his fourth Olympics at the age of 39, finished second behind Bromell in 9.93sec.