The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports has saluted student-athlete and ace sprinter Julien Alfred, following her splendid performance on the tracks in the United States of America.
The ministry noted that Julien “has not only shown her ability to win on a world stage but to incrementally improve on her personal bests”.
Ministry officials stated that since Alfred turned 21 on June, 10 “she continues to deliver on the promise she has shown from her early days in training in her home country of Saint Lucia.”
Currently, a Texas Longhorn sophomore, Julien has had a remarkable season, recently winning the Women’s 100m semi-final while clocking 10.90 secs. She later went on to “smoke the competition” in the finals of the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships in Oregon to emerge victorious, in a time of 11.02 seconds.
She is the second Saint Lucian athlete, following in the footsteps of Jeanelle Schepper to win the coveted NCAA Div. I sprint title.
Alfred was also the 1st leg runner of the champion 4x100m relay team which clocked a time of 42.42.
While commending the young track star’s recent successes, Youth Development and Sports Minister, Kenson Casimir declared: “I continue to be impressed with the maturation of Julien Alfred on the global stage. I must congratulate her, her local coach Cuthbert ‘Twa-ti-nay’ Modeste, and her family on a job well done”.
Casimir added: “I must also acknowledge former Minister of Sports, Hon. Shawn Edward on the initial support provided to her during his tenure. As a nation, we are now reaping the rewards of our good governance. We will continue to provide her with as much support as we can, while we nurture all our emerging athletes.”
The Ministry of Youth Development & Sports remains committed to the continued support of Julien Alfred, as is the case for all athletes under the agency’s Elite & Emerging Athletes Program.
“We wish her sustained success on her sporting journey and look forward to welcoming her home in the near future,” said the ministry personnel.