Sha’Carri Richardson races for silver in 100 meters

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson’s comeback hit a wall Saturday when Julien Alfred won the 100-meter title in 10.72 seconds to eclipse his opponents and bring the first-ever Olympic medal to his island nation of Saint Lucia.

Running a lane to the left of Richardson, and with rain falling on the purple track at the Stade de France, Alfred made a fantastic start and beat Richardson by 0.15 seconds, or about three body lengths.

Richardson’s training partner, Melissa Jefferson, finished third in 10.92 seconds.

Earlier Saturday, Richardson overcame a slow start to advance to the Olympic 100-meter final. She also finished second to Alfred, 0.05 seconds off her semifinal time of 10.84.

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was unexpectedly withdrawn from the semi-final race, meaning the two-time Olympic champion did not compete for a third gold medal in the event.

Richardson and Alfred entered the race as the only two Olympians to have clocked under 10.8 seconds this year.

Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal meant that all members of the podium from the last Olympic 100m, including Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, were not in the final.

No American woman has won Olympic gold in the 100 meters since Gail Devers in 1996. Marion Jones won the 100 meters in 2000, but her medal was stripped for doping.

Other medals up for grabs on Saturday were the men’s shot put, women’s triple jump, mixed 4×400 relay and decathlon.

Earlier in the day, Noah Lyles finished second (10.04) in a slow first qualifying round to advance to the semifinals of the men’s 100m. The semifinals and final are scheduled for Sunday.