Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred had a sharp turnaround, competing in the opening round of the women’s 200m less than 18 hours after securing Saint Lucia’s first-ever senior global outdoor medal in track and field.
Going in Heat 1 at 4:55 am Eastern Caribbean time, the 23-year-old University of Texas graduate from Ciceron easily navigated her opening round of the 200.
She pulled away from Frenchwoman Gémima Joseph to negotiate her heat in 22.41 seconds. Joseph was well down in 22.72 seconds. The wind was 1.4 metres per second.
On Saturday evening Paris time, Saturday afternoon Saint Lucia time, Alfred had won the Olympic women’s 100m by the biggest margin in that event since Beijing 2008.
Then, the champion was Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Saint Lucia made history on that occasion by becoming the smallest nation with two women in a final, as Levern Spencer and Jeannelle Scheper contested the women’s high jump.
16 years on, Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the semifinals in what she has said will be her final Olympics. Fellow veteran Mary-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of the Ivory Coast limped across the line in the final.
On Sunday morning, there was more bad news for Jamaica. World 200m champion Shericka Jackson pulled out of the first round of her event.
Alfred gets a chance to rest properly now. The next round of the 200, the semifinal, is not until 2:45 pm Monday, with the final on Tuesday evening. First, though, is the Medal Ceremony, when Sons And Daughters Of Saint Lucia will be played for the first time ever in an Olympic stadium.
Fantastic achievement from her as regular visitors from the uk we have supported you all the way, just sorry we could not have been in St Lucia for the race bet it was one hell of a party
Bring that 200m gold medal home too baby girl….
Congratulations Julien Alfred! I pray God helps you to win, runnnn. We are proud of you.
Iam from Germany and my wife from Dennery , her voice was flying over the Atlantic Ocean so
proud we are …
Bring it home? For for wat? Bring it and stay up there…
Eventuallyy thats what she will do…. let us come out of our fantasy…too much crime in this place
Congratulations Saint Lucia for this great achievement!
Regards from Argentina
There is crime everywhere. Leave Saint Lucia alone.
anonymous….u outrageous
I am from Senegal in West Africa, may be the first country one can reach in a stright trip from Ste Lucia to Africa by sea. I never met someone from your country and Julien Alfred is the first one I know by her name. But after her gold medal, I say why not to pay a virtual visit to this country before a real visit (who knows?). I am not disappointed! I wish Alfred to win the next 200 m race to come again and celebrate virtually with this beautiful people this victory. Do pray for my country Senegal to win a medal in the 110m hurdles men! Amen!!!