Saint Lucian sprint sensation Julien “Juju” Alfred showcased her exceptional talent by setting a new record in the Women’s 300 meters at the recently held New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
Alfred kicked off her season with a superb performance on Sunday, overtaking her training partner Dina Asher-Smith of the United Kingdom just before the 200m mark and finishing strong. Her impressive time of 36.16 not only established a new national record for Saint Lucia but also marked the 15th-fastest indoor run of all time and the third-fastest of the year.
Asher-Smith achieved a personal best of 36.87 to secure second place, while Emma Montoya of France clocked 38.37 for third, and Bianca Stubler of the USA finished fourth with a time of 39.33. The race took place on the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts.
At just 23 years old, Alfred, a world record holder at the World Indoor Championships over 60m, and Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist in the 100m, as well as a silver medalist in the 200m, continues to excel on the global athletic stage. Edrick Floreal, Alfred’s coach, emphasises that she is eagerly looking forward to competing in the 400m when the outdoor season opens in April.
With unwavering confidence in her coach and recognizing his track record of success, Alfred declared, “He has a plan. I’m following his plan. Even though it hurts a lot, I trust him.”
Having previously run the 300m indoors, Alfred’s win at the 2022 Commonwealth College Opener with a then-national record of 37.36 laid the groundwork for her current achievements.
Wearing the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) logo on her athletic outfit, Alfred proudly celebrated this latest accomplishment.
In recognition of her success, the SLTA expressed on its webpage: “Congrats to Julien Alfred on winning the Women’s 300M at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston. Our Tourism Ambassador continues to shine and put Saint Lucia on the map!”