Saint Lucian sprint sensation Julien Alfred has been on a historic tear this season, leaving even the sport’s biggest names, including Sha’Carri Richardson, in the shadow of her searing pace.
Julien Alfred’s latest masterclass came at the Stockholm Diamond League, where she scorched the track in 10.75 seconds, obliterating Irina Privalova’s 31-year-old meet record by 0.15 seconds. That performance not only secured her seventh consecutive win this year but propelled her to No. 2 on the 2025 world list, just behind American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s 10.73 set in Philadelphia.
Track analyst Anderson Emerole, speaking on The Final Leg podcast, called Alfred “by far the clear favorite” for the Tokyo showdown.
“She’s barely had any ‘transition phase’ out of college, yet she’s already running the table,” Emerole noted.
“Julien’s in form, breaking records, and getting faster by the week. She’s got a clean path without trials, and it shows.”
Julien Alfred’s rapid rise since leaving the University of Texas just two summers ago has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, she claimed Olympic gold in the 100 m and silver in the 200 m.
Now, in 2025, she’s already delivered record-breaking runs in Oslo and Stockholm within eight days and owns three of the year’s five fastest legal times in the 100 m.
A 2025 Season of Relentless Dominance
While other stars balance schedules and national trials, Julien Alfred has maintained a relentless winning streak. Beyond her Diamond League heroics, she clocked a world-leading 21.88s over 200 m in Gainesville, a national record 36.05s in the 300 m at Miramar, and a 49.8s relay split at the Texas Relays. Indoors, she added national marks in both the 300 m and 400 m.
The contrast with Richardson’s season couldn’t be starker. The American sprint star, automatically qualified for Tokyo as the reigning world champion, has struggled to find rhythm in 2025.
She opened her season with a surprising 4th-place finish at the Tokyo Golden Grand Prix, clocking a pedestrian 11.47s into a slight headwind. Her next major test comes at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5, where fans hope she can recapture her world-beating form ahead of a loaded U.S. Championships.
Legends Chasing the Island Star
Jamaica’s sprint powerhouses are also keeping the chase alive. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce began her farewell season with a wind-assisted 10.94s before finishing 4th in Doha at 11.05s.
Meanwhile, Shericka Jackson has posted solid 11.04s and 22.53s marks to stay in contention, with the dynamic Clayton twins emerging as legitimate threats on the Jamaican circuit.
But while the legends and challengers prep and qualify, it’s Alfred who’s dictating terms on the track.
“Julien seems to be getting into excellent form and very likely has a lot more to go,” Emerole observed.
If she stays healthy and gets pushed in Tokyo, experts believe a sub-10.70s, or even a crack at the elusive 10.6s barrier, isn’t out of the question.
The Road to Tokyo
As the World Championships loom in September, Julien Alfred carries not just blistering form but also the hopes of Saint Lucia.
Without the stress of national trials and with momentum firmly behind her, the 23-year-old could complete a historic Olympic-world double.
The likes of Richardson, Fraser-Pryce, Jefferson-Wooden, and Jackson remain capable of fireworks on any given day. But for now, track and field’s brightest spotlight is burning in the colors of Saint Lucia.