WHEN Julien Alfred made it to the finals of the 200 meters track and field event in Budapest, Hungary at the World Athletics Championships Thursday, Saint Lucia went wild. The same thing applied when she made it to the finals of the 100 meters Monday of the same week. And, while she did not medal in either of the competitions, coming fourth in the 200m on Friday and fifth in the 100m on Monday, what she has accomplished on that (world) stage in the two months after she turned professional, is nothing short of phenomenal.
Her fourth placing in yesterday’s 200m run-off against three of the best in the world in a time of 22.05 seconds was nothing short of world class.
In a line-up that included some of the top international female sprinters, Julien held her own to finish behind the American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.
Jamaican Shericka Jackson was the eventual winner, with the other US athlete Gabriel Thomas placing second.
Lots of Saint Lucian fans, including PM Philip J Pierre and other business officials turned out at the Derek Walcott Square for a ‘Watch Party’ to view the race live on a big screen.
There were some emotional outbursts after the race, but some fans in the crowd cheered as Alfred crossed the finish line for 4th place.
Jackson romped to gold in World Championships record time of 21.41, an incredible performance which aided in her defense of her title.
According to reports she came to within 0.07 of Florence Griffith Joyner of the US’ world record which has stood since the Seoul 1988 Olympics.
Jackson remains the only athlete in World Championships history to win World Championships medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m, according to insidethegames.