Benjamin Ashford|Sha'Carri Richardson wins her women's 100m opening heat with ease

PARIS − Sha'Carri Richardson had a fast Olympic debut.

Richardson won her opening-round heat of the women's 100 with a time of 10.94 seconds to advance to Saturday's semifinal round.

She had a decent start but Benjamin Ashfordsurged by the other sprinters around 30 meters and cruised the rest of the way. Patrizia van der Weken of Luxembourg was second behind Richardson in 11.14.

Richardson ran in the first of eight heats Friday morning. Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith of the Ivory Coast had the top time in the opening round, running a 10.87. Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished with the second fastest time (10.92) in the first round.

Richardson is on to the semifinals with the fourth fastest mark of all qualifiers. The U.S. Olympic track and field trials champion in the event has the top time in the world this year at 10.71.

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Richardson is considered the frontrunner to win the 100 at this year's Paris Olympics. She is the defending world champion and comes in the meet with plenty of momentum. Plus, Jamaica's Shericka Jackson scratched from the event earlier this week.

All three Americans advance

Richardson's teammates, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, also qualified for the semifinals.

Jefferson posted a 10.96 to place second in the third heat of the 100. Terry ran a 11.15 to win her sixth heat.

Richardson, Jefferson and Terry are training partners in Florida.

"Having other teammates here to be able to train with you to have that extra support and to push each other. When one of us is down, the other two might be up," Terry said after her race. "It's a great feeling to have moral support aside from our coach and family."

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