It seems every time I talk to ????????Audrey Leduc she’s just done something special.<br><br>A memorable season continues. She just broke her Canadian record and advances easily to the 100m semifinal.<br><br>“I can go faster” she told me. <a href="https://t.co/BhPEtyf7th">pic.twitter.com/BhPEtyf7th</a>
Sha'Carri Richardson blazed through her opening round in the 100, winning her first-ever race at the Olympics in 10.94 seconds to easily qualify for the semifinals.
The American captured the first of eight first-round races on the opening day of track action at a jam-packed Stade de France.
Unlike Olympic trials earlier this month, Richardson got off to a nice start, kicked into overdrive and cruised into the finish, tapping her chest with her hands as she crossed the line.
She'll race in the semifinals Saturday night, and if she advances there, she'll go for gold a few hours later.
Ethan Katzberg is off to Sunday's Olympic men's hammer throw final.
The Nanaimo, B.C., native threw 79.93 metres to lead Group B at Stade de France. Rowan Hamilton of Chilliwack, B.C., also qualified with a personal best of 77.78 metres to pace Group A.
Katzberg is the top-ranked hammer thrower and owns the world-leading mark this year at 84.38, also the world's furthest throw in 16 years.
The 22-year-old is making his Olympic debut after breaking out in 2023 by winning gold at the world championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The runners involved in what might be track's best rivalry stayed on a collision course. Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen each advanced through their opening heats in the 1,500.
They'll race again Sunday, with the final scheduled for Tuesday.
World-record holder and world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine jumped only twice, clearing 1.95m on the second try, which was all she needed to easily move into Sunday night's final.
There were no big surprises. Eleanor Patterson of Australia, the 2022 world champ, also made it through, as did American Vashti Cunningham, though she did so with a mark of 1.92 after missing at 1.95 three times.
With files from The , The Canadian Press
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