Sha'Carri Richardson on track for Paris Olympics with top 100 time in trials' opening round

Sha'Carri Richardson’s campaign to go to her first Olympics is off to a solid start.

Richardson got through the opening round of the women’s 100 meters without a hitch Friday evening. The sprinter ran a 10.88 to finish first in the opening round of the event and advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

She didn't get off to the best of starts and one of her shoelaces appeared to come untied, but she recovered to win her heat and post the top overall time.

"Definitely didn’t have the start that I’ve been training to have in this moment. But still, not panicking, staying patient and knowing that no matter what’s going on, to continue to run my race," Richardson said on NBC after her win.

The semifinals and final of the women’s 100 are both scheduled for Saturday.

“It's been really beautiful to see how she is now really standing in what it means to be the face of the sprints. It comes with a lot," NBC track and field analyst Sanya Richards-Ross said of Richardson this week. "I think she has a real shot at being the Olympic champion with the way the women’s 100 has been going."

Richardson’s season-best time of 10.83 is the third fastest time in the world this year. The 24-year-old sprinter is coming off a superb 2023 season, during which she won her first world championship in the 100. She added a second gold medal as part of Team USA’s winning 4x100-meter relay squad. She also got a world championship bronze medal in the 200.

Richardson is vying to reach the Olympics for the first time in her career.

Richardson qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by winning the 100 at the 2020 Olympic trials. But Richardson tested positive for THC and was subsequently suspended for one month. Her suspension ran through the Olympic 100 meters.

Richardson is one of USA TODAY Sports’ U.S. Olympic track and field trials athletes to watch.

“I’m prepared, I just need to put it all together," Richardson said.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.