Mon | Nov 17, 2025

‘I have a long way to go’

Ominous Alfred thinks she will get better ahead of Olympics

Published:Tuesday | June 4, 2024 | 12:10 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
Julien Alfred (left) blows away the field at the National Stadium to take top spot at the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday night in a facility-equalling 10.78 seconds.
Ian Allen
Julien Alfred (left) blows away the field at the National Stadium to take top spot at the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday night in a facility-equalling 10.78 seconds.

AS SHE crossed the finish line first in a new St Lucian women’s 100m national record on Saturday at the Racer’s Grand Prix, Julien Alfred said it felt as though she had crossed a threshold in her career.

Alfred stunned the Jamaican crowd when she set a new lifetime best of 10.78 seconds, equalling the meet record set by Shericka Jackson last year.

The 22-year-old has been regarded as a rising force in the sport and said Saturday’s performance felt like a major shift in her mentality.

This comes a week after her performance at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene where she finished second behind reigning 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson. Alfred admitted she panicked during that race.

“I think it’s because in Eugene, I panicked when I got ahead because last year I was not leading the pack in any other races, so being in front, I kinda panicked a little,” she said. “I think coming out now, I didn’t panic at all and I just ran through the line.

“I have to go back to my coach. I think my start wasn’t as powerful as in Eugene but I didn’t mind at all and my ending, I still fought to the line which was better compared to last week.”

Alfred’s focus is ensuring she is in the best possible shape for the Paris Olympic Games where she hopes she can be in contention for a podium finish.

Alfred said despite her new personal best and national record, she still believes the best is yet to come.

“I feel good about it but you may feel good about it at the time, and then you sit down and watch and you’d be like ‘this could have been better’ but so far, I’m satisfied and I’m not complaining. Records are meant to be broken and I just wanted to go out there and do well, but I would take medals over records to be honest.”

The next step for Alfred is a return to the training ground before continuing her season with appearances in European track meets to help in her preparations for the Paris Olympics.

“I think I have a long way to go, to be honest,” she said.

“I’m going back to training. I’m going to meet with my team in Eugene for the NCAA, train with them and be around them and train throughout June. I’m preparing for some European meets in preparations for the Olympics.”