Julien Alfred’s bid to capture a third global title in as many years is on track, as the 2024 Olympic 100m champion has been named to represent Saint Lucia at next week’s World Athletics Indoor Championships. The meet runs March 20-22 at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Toruń, Poland, and Alfred will seek to regain the 60m title she won at Glasgow 2024.
Based in Texas, Alfred has the world’s fastest time for the event, 6.99 seconds. The 24-year-old is the joint second-fastest woman of all time over the distance, with a run of 6.94 seconds in 2023. She has run under seven seconds six times, more than anyone except World Record holder Irina Privalova of Russia.
The Saint Lucia Athletics Association officially announced Alfred’s participation in a press release on Friday, March 13.
“Alfred continues to be a source of immense national pride, having elevated Saint Lucia’s presence on the international athletics stage through her remarkable achievements and consistent world-class performances,” the SLAA said.
Over the past year, Alfred has stated her desire to break Privalova’s world record of 6.92 seconds, set in 1993 and again in 1995. Her journey towards her twin goals gets underway on Saturday, March 21, with the opening rounds at 6:05 am Caribbean time. The semifinals and finals are at 3:14 pm and 4:20 pm, the same day.
“The World Athletics Indoor Championships present another valuable opportunity for Saint Lucia to showcase its athletic talent on the global stage,” said SLAA president Dora Henry. “Julien continues to serve as an inspiration to a new generation of young athletes at home, and her participation at this level reflects the continued growth and potential of athletics in our country. As an Association, we remain committed to supporting our athletes and to providing them with the opportunities and resources necessary to compete and excel at the international level.”
Providing support in Poland will be the responsibility of a dedicated team of officials committed to ensuring optimal preparation and representation for the country. The delegation includes coach Edrick Floréal, team manager Makeba Alcide and physiotherapist Kenneth Orrin.
(TF)
