Alfred wins 200m field At Diamond League
Olympic sprint champion,Julien Alfred delivered a historic performance to win the gold medal in the women’s 200 metres at the Monaco Diamond League.
The 25-year-old Saint Lucian sprint star clocked a new meet and national record of 21.51 seconds, finishing ahead of Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands and American Gabrielle Thomas.
Both Alfred and Thomas were level entering the final straight, but Alfred surged ahead to win in 21.51 seconds, lowering her personal best by two-tenths.
Her time was the fastest in the world this year and the third-fastest ever, behind only Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 21.34 seconds world record and Shericka Jackson’s 21.41 seconds.
Hodge, who entered the Monaco Diamond League as the world leader after clocking 21.68 seconds at last month’s NCAA Championships in Eugene, ended impressively to claim second place in 21.76 seconds.
She overtook American Gabrielle Thomas, who crossed the line third in 21.84 seconds.
“I have been preparing for this for such a long time, to finally see it pay off, I am just happy. I didn’t realise how fast it was till I crossed the line. I looked at the clock and saw my time and that’s why I was screaming like at the Olympics,” Alfred said after the race.
“There are no limits right now. Today, I was actually hoping to see 21.6, I got 21.5, so I am happy nonetheless.”
