Julien Alfred is drawn next to double global sprint medallist Gabrielle Thomas of the USA for Tuesday’s women’s 200m final. The top two athletes going into the Paris Olympics, both qualified for the medal round in straightforward manner on Monday.
An Olympic champion already in the 100m, the 21-year-old Saint Lucian was drawn in Heat 1 of the semifinals, next to the American, Mckenzie Long. Long and Thomas are the only women to have run faster than Alfred this year.
This time around, though, there was no catching the history-making woman from Ciceron. She took command of the race on the curve, and cruised home, staving off a challenge from Nigeria’s Favor Ofili on the home straight.
Alfred ran 21.98 seconds, which turned out to be the second fastest time on the evening, behind only the American, Thomas.
Come the final, 3:40 pm Tuesday Eastern Caribbean Time, Alfred will go in Lane 8, with Ofili outside her in 9. Thomas is in 7, Long in 2. Dina Asher-Smith, Alfred’s training partner, lines up in 4.
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Claim it Alfred…Speak it to life…
That Queen means business. Check out the focus in those gorgeous eyes. Bring that 200m title home baby girl.
Not only St. Lucia is behind you but the entire Caribbean and just as you blew them away in the 100, we are all behind you with even more confidence to do so in the 200 meters.
Show them what black power can do because its our time. Go ju just go, its your time. Nah will see you through.
Miss Alfred, may the breath and blessings of the LORD be with you.
@Ju-Ju: Your race management in the 200 metres has greatly improved over the last 2 weeks!
One complaint, though. I discerned a certain cockiness over the last 20 metres in today’s semi-final, which caused you to break form: you were leaning back & actively braking with every stride – a very bad habit to develop (you’re not at Usain Bolt’s level, yet). Instead, you should have just loped home in fine form, letting your momentum carry you forward to the finish, without additional exertion (watch the video replay to see what I mean – although I expect that Coach Flo may have already scolded you about it). I contend that active braking was more resource-intensive than a loping stride; also more chance of injury.
Nevertheless, in the final tomorrow, I expect you to go into overdrive at the head of the home straight, much like Shericka & Gabby do. You have much more power in your core, legs & arms than Gabby does; so going full-blast down the straight past the finish line, should give you the gold, no matter how well she finishes.
Make me shed tears of joy, again!
Well my dear this will be a tuff one……based on what I read so far the rest of the Caribbean is behind you I don’t know if the likes of Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce running and others I am hoping for a perfect storm again
Cayman Islands are behind you as well!
What
What a lady! First she gets Gold for St Lucia’s first Olympic medal and follows with ANOTHER medal!
Perhaps we need to start w
nudge shut it
A Gold & a Silver not bad; a prayer asking for the LORD’S greater blessings next time, maybe at the ‘ PAN AMERICAN ‘ or Common Wealth games ‘ if some rich guy don’t come first.
Stay out of Politics.