The world spoke highly of everything about Julien Alfred when she crossed that finish line in the women’s 100m finals first at the Paris Olympics. It was a surprise for many, as she defeated the pre-race favorite Sha’Carri Richardson. However, her journey to the highest step of the podium was never easy, as she had her own struggles to battle.
This year, the Saint Lucian runner wanted to start high with the New Balance Grand Prix. But there was a twist to it. Indeed, she wasn’t going to run in the 60m but the 300m. When this got public, immediately there were many questions about the runner’s decision for this distance, but she was dedicated to showcasing her prowess to the world, and you bet she did! Furthermore, she also shared her thoughts on her coach’s decision, which was kind of bittersweet.
Why the backlash? Because most of the people in the track and field world wanted to run in the 60m, as last year she became an indoor champion in that particular distance. But this year, her coach Edrick Floreal wanted her to run in the 300m, and she didn’t disappoint as she clocked a blistering 36.16, way ahead of British athlete Dina Asher-Smith, who clocked a time of 36.87.
Julien Alfred’s reaction to this? “You know, he has a plan. I’m just following his plan. Even though it hurts a lot, but I trust him and what he has for me,” said the Saint Lucian runner during the post-race interview with NBC. Indeed, it was her coach’s plan, and it did go in the right direction, as she achieved the Saint Lucian record in the 300m. However, she had her fair share of challenges during his 300m journey.
This is a developing report…
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