LONDON (AP) — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica moved closer to a second consecutive 100-meter Olympic title by winning her semifinal heat in 10.85 seconds Saturday night.
The last woman to win the dash twice in a row was Gail Devers of the U.S. in 1992 and 1996.
Fraser-Pryce was joined in the final, scheduled for later Saturday, by teammate Veronica Campbell-Brown, but there won’t be a Jamaican sweep of the women’s 100 medals the way there was four years ago in Beijing. That’s because Kerron Stewart, who won a silver in 2008, finished fourth in her semifinal.
All three U.S. entrants advanced: world champion Carmelita Jeter, Allyson Felix and Tianna Madison.
Jeter set aside a so-so start to win the opening semifinal in 10.83.