English Gardner, in her first race since placing seventh in the Olympic 100 final last year, easily advanced in the 100 at the USATF championships in Sacramento.
Gardner, a graduate of Eastern Regional High and a gold medalist in the 400-meter relay, ran 11.04 and advanced to the semifinals on Friday evening.
Gardner has a PR of 10.74, which is seventh-fastest in world history. She ran that at last year’s Olympic Trials in Eugene, and it’s second-fastest in Trials history, fastest other than Florence Griffith-Joyner, whose 1988 performances were achieved under a cloud of suspicion.
Torie Bowie led all qualifiers with a 10.90, fifth-fastest in the world this year. Gardner had the eighth-fastest qualifying time, but the No. 2 through No. 12 times were all from 10.98 through 11.07.
The semifinals are scheduled for 8:16 p.m. EST Friday and the finals at 10:52 p.m. EST.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 