WITH just four months before Saint Lucia celebrates its 40th Independence from Great Britian, another young female athlete has put the Island on the map — for the second time in as many years — participating in a global event, this time around capturing Saint Lucia’s first-ever Youth Olympic Games medal.
Julien Alfred won her second international podium finish when she finished second in the women’s 100 metres with a time of 11.23 seconds on Monday 15th October 2018 at the ParquePolideportivo Roca Stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Julien, who turned 17 on June 10th, is the reigning Junior and Senior Sportswoman for 2017; she is a former student of the Ciceron Infant and Primary Schools, Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary and St. Catherine High School in Jamaica. She is a multiple national record holder and the Commonwealth Youth Games 2017 Bahamas women’s 100 metres champion.
Julien’s 11.23 seconds, added to her 11.99 seconds in the preliminaries, left her just two-hundredths of a second behind the 2018 YOG champion, Nigeria’s Rosemary Chukuma.
Chukuma (Nigeria) was able to better that result in the women’s 100 metres; she finished third in the first stage of the race with a time of 12.03 seconds, but cut almost a second off her second try, crossing the finish line at 11.17 seconds and claiming the gold.
Gabriela Anahi Suarez from Ecuador got the bronze.
Up to press time yesterday, Julien’s silver medal has positioned Saint Lucia to 76th place overall on the medals table (tied with Ireland, Philippines and United Arab Emirates). Powerhouse Cuba 13th, 4 gold, 2 bronze, the Dominican Republic 53rd, 1 gold, 1 bronze; while Jamaica 72nd, tied with Hong Kong, Puerto Rico and Zambia with 1 silver, 1 bronze.
Russia topped the points table with 25 gold, 15 silver, 12 bronze(52), China: 18 gold, 9 silver, 9 bronze (36), Japan: 14 gold, 8 silver, 12 bronze (34); while host Argentina 6th, with 9 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze (21).
This is the third edition of the YOG. The YOG was previously held in Nanjing, China 2014 and Singapore 2010.
It must be noted, of the nations that won medals at these Games, two had not won an Olympic medal before; Honduras and Saint Lucia. Iceland, Malaysia and Mauritius won their first gold medal at an Olympic event, having previously only won silver and bronze medals. Afghanistan, Algeria, Kosovo, Mauritius, Niger, Philippines, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates won their first ever Youth Olympics medals.
Reporter Anmar Goodridge Boyce spoke to Alfred after the event, she said, “Yes, This is a proud moment. This is the third Youth Olympic Games, and I am the first medallist for Saint Lucia, and I am nothing but proud. Had the wind been lower, I would have a new national record”.
“I knew I was going to medal anyways. Not to be boastful, but like, I came to these championships positive, and I delivered very well. We hoped for gold, but I am still thankful for the silver medal”.
“Going into the race, I was positive, I was relaxed. During the race I felt like the last 40 metres I was trying to fight, I didn’t hold my form properly, but my start was good, compared to Stage 1.”
Team Saint Lucia is expected back on Island at around 2.30 p.m. on Saturday 20th October 2018 via the Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort and according to Saint Lucia Olympic Committee, Fortuna Belrose, who spoke to the VOICE, said, “I am indeed happy, it’s all about perseverance, hard work and dedication”.
Belrose in her brief stay on the telephone with the VOICE reporter also took the time out to congratulate Cuthbert Modeste, Alfred’s coach for the hard work he has put in over the years.
The VOICE also spoke to Coach Cuthbert Modeste, “I am proud of her, she is very focus when she is on her mission. Julien believes in me when I told her she is ready and we will medal, she agrees we are a perfect team, Survivors”.
He said, “I am looking for a 30 seater to take my entire team to the airport to welcome her back home, we will be wearing our Survivors shirts and waving our national flag to the Sprint Queen”.
It must also be noted that the three medals Saint Lucia has won at the Commonwealth Youth Games, all come from athletes coached by Cuthbert Modeste of the Survivors Track and Field Club; Julien Alfred (gold in the 100 metres), JeanelleScheper (silver in high jump) and Rochelle Etienne (bronze in Javelin).
Meanwhile, a welcome reception is planned for the silverware winner Julien Alfred and the rest of the team headed by Chef de Mission, Liota Charlemange – Mason upon arrival in the VIP Lounge at the HIA.
