Sha'Carri Richardson cruised into the Stawell Gift semi-final on Saturday afternoon after comfortably winning her heat.
The USA sprint star started from scratch, powered past the field and then eased up before the line once victory was assured. Richardson, who won a Paris Olympic 100m silver medal, advanced in the Stawell Gift in Australia and did so with little apparent strain.
For Richardson, the result was a clean first step in an event that draws sharp attention because of its unusual handicap format and the prestige attached to winning on Australian turf. She arrived as one of the best-known names in the field and left the heat looking every bit the favorite to keep moving through the rounds.
The only question now is whether she can reproduce that speed in the semi-final after showing enough control in the heat to win without having to push all the way to the tape.
