TOKYO (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson picked up speed down the stretch and turned her first run in Tokyo into a season-best — a first-place finish in 11.03 seconds in her opening heat of the 100 meters at the world championships Saturday.

For Richardson, it was a successful debut at Japan National Stadium — for others, a return to Tokyo that felt nothing like the last trip during the COVID-tainted Olympics in 2021 that had athletes performing in front of empty seats.

This time, a full stadium.

“They’re really excited to be here,” said American long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, the reigning Olympic champion who needed only one jump to move on to Sunday’s medal round. “They love life out here, and I’m just so happy I was able to be out here with a crowd.”

In the 100, everyone who was expected

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