Carmelita Jeter leads U.S. women into 100-meter dash semifinals

LONDON--All three American women entered in the 100-meter dash easily advanced out of Friday’s first round and to Saturday’s semifinals.

U.S. champion Carmelita Jeter, an alumna of Cal State Dominguez Hills, was timed in a blistering 10.83 seconds, which was two-hundredths of a second off her season-best time and the fastest qualifying time. Jeter, who’s from Gardena, didn’t stop to speak with reporters after her race at the Olympic Stadium.

Tianna Madison of Elyria, Ohio, the runner-up at the U.S. Olympic trials, was second in her heat in 10.97 seconds, one-hundredth of a second off her top time this season. The winner of that heat, Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria, recorded a personal-best time of 10.93.

And Allyson Felixof Los Angeles, who’s attempting a 100-200 double, won her heat in 11.01 seconds after getting a slow start and easing up at the end.

“I definitely have to put the start together in the next round because I completely missed it but I feel confident I can step it up,” Felix said.

Like many other runners, she also said the track is fast. “It feels really good,” she said. “It feels great to have it be a full stadium and feel all the energy. It’s exciting to finally be underway.”

Madison, a former long jump champ, said she was surprised by the atmosphere in the stadium.

“I was amazed at how many people were there and how quiet it got when the starter started speaking,” she said.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, who ran a world-leading 10.70 earlier this year and is a medal contender, was timed in 11 seconds.

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