Four-time defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clocked an impressive 10.87 seconds (-0.2 m/s) to win her heat of the women’s 100 meters at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 here at Hayward Field in Eugene on Saturday (16).
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She was joined in the semi-finals by compatriots, fellow gold medal threats Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah.
Also running a flashing time was Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who clocked the fastest time of the first round – 10.84 seconds (+1.2 m/s) for first place in heat five, showing that she’s back to top form after a series of injuries slowed down her progress in the last few months.
Fraser-Pryce, who is vying for a fifth world 100m title, leads the world in 2022 with a pair of 10.67 seconds, believes she is in shape needed to win another global title, but added that it will take something fast to get the better of the world-class field in Oregon.
EUGENE, OREGON – JULY 16: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Team Jamaica reacts after competing in the Women’s 100 Meter heats on day two of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 16, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics) 
EUGENE, OREGON – JULY 16: Crystal Emmanuel of Team Canada and Elaine Thompson-Herah of Team Jamaica compete in the Women’s 100 Meter heats on day two of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 16, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images for World Athletics)
Olympic bronze medalist Jackson also advanced to the semi-finals after running a well-contained 11.02 seconds to win heat one.
Double-double Olympic sprint double champion Thompson-Herah posted 11.15 seconds to win the third heat and looked relaxed as she started her bid for a first world championships individual gold medal.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast also broke 11-seconds in the heats after clocking 10.92 secs to win the fourth heat just ahead of American Twanisha “TeeTee” Terry, who ran 10.95 secs for second place.
NCAA runner-up Kemba Nelson who trains at Hayward Field after representing the University of Oregon during her collegiate career, got third in 11.10.
Swiss national record holder Mujinga Kambundji won the seventh and final heat in 10.98 seconds (-0.1 m/s) ahead of American champion Melissa Jefferson (11.03) and Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (11.07).
Elsewhere, American Aleia Hobbs clocked 11.02 for the win in heat six, while NCAA champion Julien Alfred of St. Lucia was second to Asher-Smith in her heat at 11.05 to advance.
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