SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson’s comeback story hit a brick wall Saturday when Julien Alfred romped to the 100-meter title in 10.72 seconds to blow away the field and bring the first-ever Olympic medal to her island country of Saint Lucia.
Racing one lane to the left of Richardson, and with rain puddling on the purple track in the Stade de France, Alfred got off to a fantastic start and beat Richardson by .15 seconds — about three body lengths.
Richardson’ training partner, Melissa Jefferson, finished third in 10.92
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.
