It was a surprise withdraw from the Jamaican sprinter.
WASHINGTON — Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce did not race in Saturday’s 100-meter semifinal heat.
The sprinter was expected to be a top contender and no reason was given for the two-time Olympic champion’s late scratch. This is the 37-year-old’s fifth and final Olympics.
Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal meant the entire podium from the last Olympic 100, including Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, would not be in the final this time.
The Olympian previously won the 100 in 2008 and 2012.
Earlier in the day, Fraser-Pryce was one of several athletes blocked from entering the training track, the Jamaica team said on its social media site. The team said she was eventually let in. It did not say whether that played into her sudden scratch.
She’s the second sprinter from Jamaica to withdraw from the 100-meter dash.
Just days before the track and field events got underway, Shericka Jackson of Jamaica announced she will not be participating in the race due to an injury she suffered earlier this month.
“It was a combination of things,” Jackson said. “I got hurt, and me and my coach felt like it was a good decision to only run one event.”
Sha’Carri Richardson overcame a slow start to qualify for the Olympic 100-meter final 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.
During the final, Richardson settled for silver, finishing behind Alfred again.
