Bree Masters makes the semi final of the 100m women’s sprint at the Paris Olympic Games

For the first time since the Sydney 2000 Olympics Australia will have a starter in the women’s 100m sprint semi final.

Spurred on by a motivational missive from Torrie Lewis to take the fight to sprint Queen Sha’Carri Richardson, Bree Masters has become the first Australian to qualify for the semi-finals of an Olympic women’s 100 metres in more than 20 years.

Masters, running in the lane beside gold medal favourite Richardson, ran a season’s best 11.26s to finish third in her heat and book a berth in the next round.

Richardson, who was escorted through the media mixed zone without speaking after the race, barely broke a sweat as she won the heat in 10.94s.

Masters, running in Richardson’s slipstream, wasn’t that far behind as she mirrored the achievement of Melinda Gainsford-Taylor in Sydney in

Bree Masters runs into the semi final of the 100m behind USA star Sha'Carri Richardson. Picture: Jewel Samad / AFP

2000 by qualifying for the semis. “I’m a bit speechless,” Masters said afterwards.

“I went in sixth fastest and then came out third so I’m so rapt. The one goal was to come here to have fun and also make that semi-final and run as best as I possibly can and I got a season’s best.

“When the heat draw came out I was honestly so excited. I wanted to race against someone really cool and obviously Sha’Carri is probably the coolest you can get — it’s not everyday you get to race the fastest woman in the world.”

It is the first time an Australian has made the semi final of the 100m since 2000. Picture: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP

Masters is sharing a room with Lewis, who shocked the world when she relegated Richardson to second over the 200m at the China Diamond League earlier this year.

Lewis was still in bed when Masters left for Stade de France but she had left a note for her teammate instructing her not to be intimidated by the American

“I got a little note from Torrie Lewis who beat Sha’Carri earlier in the season — she was asleep this morning by the time that I left so she left me a note that said, ‘If I am not awake in time I wish you the best of luck, you have worked so hard to get in this individual 100m now go and beat Sha’Carri’,” Masters said.

Bree Masters embraces Asimenye Simwaka after the 100m heat. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

“It was such a good message to read in the morning …. made me feel really relaxed.

“I really just took in that experience and tried to stick to her as best I could to pull me through for a big time and a big Q (qualifying time).

“She is really cool. The call room was a bit silent; it almost needed some music to get the vibes going. I spoke to her (Richardson), let her know when to put her bib on because she couldn’t understand when to get ready, to get full race read. She was really cool – – she has a great personality.”

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Masters’ achievement in making it out of the heats was vindication for staying at home after the Oceania championships rather than heading overseas. Ella Connolly, Australia’s other representative, failed to make it out of the heats.

Originally published as Bree Masters makes the semi final of the 100m women’s sprint at the Paris Olympic Games