Tokyo 2025: Alfred, Neita, and Jefferson-Wooden dominate 100m heats as Sha'Carri Richardson and Fraser-Pryce also reach semis

Funmilayo Fameso 14:33 - 13 September 2025

Julien Alfred, Daryll Neita, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden

Tokyo 2025 World Championships women's 100m heats review as Olympic champion Julien Alfred dominates with the fastest time.

The women's 100m event at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships got underway with brilliant performances as Julien Alfred, Daryll Neita, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden dominated the heats, while Sha'Carri Richardson and Fraser-Pryce also reached the semis.

World leader Jefferson-Wooden set things rolling in Heat 1, clocking a very easy 10.99s for the needed victory ahead of New Zealand's Zoe Hobbs in 11.16s, while Switzerland's Geraldine Frey was third in 11.25s.

World leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden comfortably won her 100m heats at Tokyo 2025

The American who's undefeated in the 100m this season is surely the woman to beat and looked in perfect shape to win her first individual world title in Tokyo.

Athletics

Tokyo 2025 World Championships: Champion vs Challengers, Veterans, and Underdogs (women's 100m event)

In Heat 2, Jamaican Champion Tina Clayton also ran a comfortable race, clocking 11.01s as Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith finished second in 11.07s and Poland's Ewa Swoboda third in 11.18s. Nigeria's Rosemary Chukwuma finished fifth in 11.27s.

Defending champion Richardson ran her best race of the season to win Heat 3 in an impressive 11.03s, just edging fierce rival Shericka Jackson, who settled for second in 11.04s, while Australia's rising star Torrie Lewis clocked a national record of 11.08s for third.

Defending world 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson

Olympic champion Alfred ran the fastest time of all heats in a very comfortable 10.93s to win Heat 4, far ahead of Switzerland's Salome Kora in 11.23s, and Canada's Audrey Leduc third in 11.26s.

Julien Alfred ‘s Bold Message to Detractors Ahead of Tokyo World Championships

Olympic champion Julien Alfred dominated her 100m heats in Tokyo

Heat 5 produced another brilliant performance from Great Britain's Daryll Neita, who clocked a massive Season's Best (SB) of 10.94s. USA's Twanisha Terry was second in 11.06s, and Liberia's Thelma Davies third in 11.26s.

The three Brits are safely through to the 100m semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships ⚡️

🇬🇧 Daryll Neita clocks 10.94 (0.5) to win her heat

🇬🇧 Dina Asher-Smith runs 11.07 (-0.4) for second in her heat

🇬🇧 Amy Hunt was second in her heat and ran 11.13 (-0.1) pic.twitter.com/1tIJqVWHPu
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 13, 2025

Italy's Zaynab Dosso won Heat 6 in 11.10s, just edging Great Britain's Amy Hunt to second in 11.13s, and USA's Kayla White surprisingly took the last automatic qualifying spot in 11.16s.

The final heat saw an inspiring performance from veterans in the sport as Jamaican sprint legend Fraser-Pryce ran 11.09s to place second behind Ivorian legend Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith in 11.05s.

Sprint legends Fraser-Pryce and Ta Lou-Smith

The women's 100m semifinals and final will take place on Day 2 of the championship (September 14), which is expected to be a highly anticipated watch as it's already gearing up to be one for the history books.