As expected, the world’s attention focused on the prestigious 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where the women’s 100m finals stood out as a major highlight.
Saint Lucian sprint sensation and Olympic champion Julien “Juju” Alfred confidently competed against the USA’s formidable rival, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, along with other seasoned and emerging contenders.
At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Julien Alfred, the reigning Olympic 100 metres champion, added another significant milestone to her already impressive career by securing the bronze medal with a time of 10.84 seconds in the women’s 100m final .
Despite recording the fastest reaction time of 0.169 seconds at the start of the race, Alfred experienced a grade one hamstring strain that adversely affected her performance, marking both a personal challenge and a competitive setback as it forced her to withdraw from the Women’s 200m event .
Moreover, the race saw fierce competition, with Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States setting a championship record of 10.61 seconds and Tia Clayton of Jamaica finishing with a personal best of 10.76 seconds .
At just 24 years old and already a four-time global medalist, Alfred’s performance in Tokyo highlights not only her competitive prowess on the world stage but also the vulnerabilities that come with high-intensity athletic endeavors.
Earlier in the day, Aasia Laurencin competed in the heats of the women’s 100m hurdles for Saint Lucia. The 23-year-old ran 13.03 seconds to place fifth in Heat 2, missing out on qualification for the semifinals.
Julien Alfred is a name synonymous with excellence in sprinting. At just 24 years old, she has already established herself as one of the premier athletes in the world of track and field. Holding the title of Olympic 100 metres champion from Paris 2024, Alfred entered the 2025 World Athletics Championships as a favorite, not only for the 100m but also for the 200m event, where she intended to solidify her position as a world leader. The Tokyo Championships provided the ideal stage for Alfred to showcase her elite speed, technical precision, and racing intelligence.
Over the past few years, Julien Alfred has consistently demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure on the global stage. Her journey began with rapid progress in national-level competitions, eventually leading to international success. By her early twenties, Alfred had amassed an impressive collection of global medals. The Tokyo 2025 event was particularly significant as it marked her fourth major global medal, adding considerable weight to her record and further establishing her reputation among the sprinting elite .
The 100m final at the 2025 Tokyo Championships was a race marked by extreme competitiveness and moments of brilliance as well as adversity. The emphasis in sprinting is not only on speed but also on flawless technique. In Alfred’s case, her race was a study in both aspects, beginning with a superb start but quickly turning into a battle with an unforeseen injury.