Saint Lucian sprinter, Texas national champion Julien Alfred cruises in opening heat of 2024 Olympics
Julien Alfred, the former Texas Longhorn superstar, easily made it through Friday’s preliminary rounds of the women’s 100 meters at the Paris Olympics.
Although Alfred dazzled at UT and still trains with Longhorns coach Edrick Floréal, she represents Saint Lucia at the Olympics. And many consider her to be a candidate for a podium spot in the 100 and 200 meters.
The Texas track and field social media accounts shared video of Alfred’s prelim performance. Her run was free and easy. But the competition goes up a huge notch on Saturday, when she’ll be running in the lane next to world champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
Alfred’s time of 10.95 seconds was the fifth-fastest time of the prelims. However, the times were deceptive since the elite competitors didn’t push to win their heats.
If she makes it through, the finals will follow hours later. It’s a way to officially kick off the track and field section of the Olympics. The events are being held just north of Paris at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
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In fact, Alfred is sandwiched between Richardson, a former LSU standout from Dallas, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 37-year-old legendary Jamaican sprinter. Fraser-Pryce, who owns three gold medals, says this is her final Olympics.
France’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith posted the fasted time of the prelims, running 10.87. Fraser-Pryce was second at 10.92. Richardson’s time of 10.94 was fourth, with Alfred a breath behind.
The Jamaicans swept the podium of the 100 at the Tokyo Olympics. But Fraser-Pryce is the only one of the three running in Paris. Tokyo gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah isn’t competing, Neither is Shericka Jackson.
That leaves a huge opening for the likes of Richardson and Alfred. The former Longhorn is the defending world indoor champion in the 60 meters. Last year, she finished fifth at the world championships in the 100 and fourth in the 200. Her time at the worlds was .02 faster than what she ran Friday in Paris.