It’s been almost ten months since that unforgettable, rain-kissed evening in Paris—when the Stade de France became the stage for a dramatic shift in sprinting supremacy. On that night, a 24-year-old from Saint Lucia stunned the world. Julien Alfred, known for her explosive starts and relentless finishes, clocked a blazing 10.72 seconds in the women’s 100m final, leaving the reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson in her wake. Despite being the season’s world leader, Sha’Carri had to settle for silver, while her Star Athletics teammate, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, took the bronze. Since that night of fireworks, the trio—Alfred, Richardson, and Jefferson-Wooden—have not shared a track again. But that’s about to change.
Post-Olympics, Sha’Carri and Julien met twice in quick succession. The first faceoff came at the Zurich Diamond League, where Sha’Carri edged out Julien for the win. But the tables turned just eight days later at the Brussels Memorial Van Damme, where JuJu dominated the field and Sha’Carri faded to eighth. Julien now leads Sha’Carri 4-3 in head-to-heads. Her lead over Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, however, is far more commanding at 5-0, though they haven’t clashed since the Olympics.
But now, anticipation is building. After her sensational win in Stockholm, Julien Alfred didn’t just celebrate—she made headlines by confirming her next stop: the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Sha’Carri Richardson had already announced her participation back in February. And now, adding to the excitement, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden—fresh off a win at the Philadelphia leg of the Grand Slam Track—has also revealed that Eugene is on her calendar.
Looks like we may be getting a rematch of the Olympic 100m podium
After running 10.75 in the Oslo 100m, Julien Alfred noted her next race will be at Prefontaine on July 5th, where Melissa stated she will be racing and Sha’carri is already announced for.
via Diamond League AG https://t.co/pOIOVZuc5i pic.twitter.com/uqHtZycT8O
— Anderson Emerole (@EmeroleAnderson) June 16, 2025
The rematch is officially on. Three of the fastest women in the world. One stage. One race. The countdown to Eugene begins. The date? July 5 (Saturday) at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. However, the competition between the three athletes might be higher this time, as Coach Rob estimated. The reason? Melissa Jefferson-Wooden now has the world lead (10.73 seconds) in the women’s 100m event. On the other hand, on June 15, Julien Alfred dropped the finishing time of 10.75 seconds, breaking the 31-year-old Stockholm Diamond League record. She shaved 0.14 seconds off her performance in the Oslo Diamond League three days before. However, Sha’Carri has yet to show up in full form on the track. On May 18, she took 11.47 seconds into a mild headwind of -0.9 m/s in the women’s 100m event at the Golden Grand Prix, raising alarms. However, in the Prefontaine Classic, she has had some memorable outings.
Sha’Carri Richardson and Prefontaine Classic—the tale continues
Before their high-stakes showdown in the semifinals and final of the women’s 100m at the Paris Olympics, Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred had already locked horns once in 2024—at none other than the Nike Prefontaine Classic. In that race, the reigning world champion Richardson got off to a solid start but found herself trailing Alfred in the early meters. However, by the 30-meter mark, Sha’Carri kicked into another gear, powering ahead and cruising to the finish in 10.83 seconds. Julien followed in second with 10.93.
Afterward, Sha’Carri reflected on her performance with pride and perspective: “Honestly, I feel great about my race. I feel like I’m continuing to grow and develop as a mature young lady, a mature athlete.” That sense of resilience has defined much of Sha’Carri’s career at Hayward Field. In 2023, she was placed fourth at the Prefontaine Classic with a 10.80 finish, just .10 behind Shericka Jackson, who claimed the crown. Two years earlier, in 2021, Sha’Carri made her much-publicized return to the sport at this very venue. That day didn’t go as planned—she finished ninth—but her confidence remained unshaken.
Credit: Instagram/ Sha’Carri Richardson
“It was one race,” a 21-year-old Richardson told reporters before even leaving the track. “I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of.” And indeed, she wasn’t. The Prefontaine Classic has witnessed the highs and lows of her journey, and on July 5, it could be the stage for her most powerful statement yet.
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