Jeter, Felix and Madison reach women’s 100-meter final

LONDON — Carmelita Jeter, the reigning world champion, posted the fastest time the women’s 100-meter semifinals Saturday to lead all three American entrants into the final at Olympic Stadium.

Jeter, of Gardena and Cal State Dominguez Hills, was timed in 10.83 seconds to win her heat. She looked smooth and sure in edging Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, who was timed in 10.89.

Allyson Felix of Los Angeles was a late-surging second in her heat, behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica. Fraser-Pryce was timed in 10.85, to 10.94 for Felix. Fraser-Pryce has the world’s top time this year in this event, 10.70.

American Tianna Madison finished second in her heat to earn an automatic berth in the final. She was timed in 10.92, a personal best for the former world long jump champ turned sprinter. Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria was the winner of that heat, also in 10.92 seconds and also a personal best for the long-legged Okagbare.

Kerron Stewart of Jamaica, the silver medalist at 100 meters in Beijing, didn’t qualify for the eight-woman final.

In the semifinals of the men’s 400-meter hurdles, 2004 Olympic champion and former USC standout Felix Sanchez posted the top qualifying time of 47.76 seconds. Three Americans -- Angelo Taylor in 47.95, Kerron Clement in 48.12, and Michael Tinsley in 48.18 -- all turned in season bests to advance to Monday’s final.

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