Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, reigning 100m world champions, effortlessly advanced through their opening heats at the USA Track and Field trials on Thursday, as they prepare to defend their global titles at the World Championships in September. Although Richardson and Lyles have already secured their spots for Tokyo due to their status as reigning champions, they are utilising this week’s event at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, to perfect their form. Richardson, who exudes charisma, finished ninth at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene earlier in July with a modest time of 11.19 seconds. However, the 25-year-old Texan showed signs of improvement by finishing second in her heat with a time of 11.07 seconds, just behind Kayla White who clocked 10.89 seconds. Richardson’s time was the 11th fastest in the opening heats, where Melissa Jefferson-Wooden impressed by running 10.86 seconds into a 1.5m/s headwind. “Felt amazing to run a qualifying, show fitness and take the rest of the time to get ready for Tokyo,” Richardson remarked, noting her comfort in competing, knowing her World Championship berth is assured. “USA is one of the hardest teams to make, so it definitely is a kind of a release of pressure knowing I have a bye,” she told AFP. “It feels really good to not have that pressure and still be able to go to Tokyo.” Richardson is unfazed by the prospect of heading to Tokyo with other sprinters likely favoured ahead of her. “Right now I’m cruising under the radar, but when it’s time to hit — it’s gonna be a bang where y’all see my name,” she declared. Lyles Retains In the men’s 100m, Lyles, another world champion, won his heat in 10.05 seconds, the fifth fastest time of the first round. Lyles informed reporters that he is using this weekend to gain as much racing experience as possible, even though he is not obliged to compete due to his bye. “I need races — everybody knows I started the season late due to injury,” said Lyles, who was defeated in his first 100m of the season at the London Diamond League on July 19. “I just need as many races as possible. After the 100 in London, me and my coach were like ‘We might as well (race at trials)’. It’s a free race, it’s good competition.” Despite his recent challenges, Lyles is optimistic about his progress towards full fitness. “I just need more races — I’ve got to get the engine firing and get that urgency into my body,” Lyles said. “But that was just my second 100 of the year; I can’t really be mad at that.” One of Lyles’ potential threats on Friday could be Kenny Bednarek, the two-time Olympic 200m silver medallist, who recorded the fastest time of Thursday’s heats in 9.95 seconds. In the women’s 800m, Tokyo Olympic champion Athing Mu-Nikolayev advanced to the next round with the second fastest time of 2 minutes 0.06 seconds. In early field events, Olympic women’s long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall overcame a rocky start to secure a thrilling victory and her place in Tokyo. Davis-Woodhall fouled her first two jumps but managed to regroup, producing two world-leading leaps in quick succession to win the event. She initially trailed Claire Bryant, who led through three jumps with a leap of 6.97m. However, Davis-Woodhall surged into first place with her fourth jump of 7.11m, later bettering that mark with a jump of 7.12m. With AFP Inputs