Saint Lucia’s Julien wins 100m sprint title

By Our Correspondent, PARIS France

New sprint queen Julien Alfred (Saint Lucia) stunned the world by powering past favourites to land the Women’s 100m sprint title, declaring that there was no better introduction of her country than to win the gold medal at the Olympics.

In a post-medal-winning media talk, she claimed that people always questioned her as to where Saint Lucia was, “Now I think everyone would look at the map to exactly know that where my country is.

There is no better introduction of the country than to see an athlete winning the gold medal at the Olympics.” In a blink of an eye, the three-time NCAA champion had pulled off a stunning victory in the Stade de France, beating pre-race favourite Sha’Carri Richardson to clinch gold in 10.72 seconds and give Saint Lucia its first Olympic medal in the history of the Games.

Alfred was overwhelmed with emotions after her victory as she dedicated the win to her late father who died 11 years ago: “Most importantly, God, my coach, and lastly, my dad, who believed that I could do it,” she answered when asked to whom she dedicated her victory. “He passed away in 2013, and now he couldn’t get to see me on the biggest stage of my career. But he’ll always be so boastful of his daughter being an Olympian.”

USA’s Richardson claimed silver in 10.87 while her compatriot Melissa Jefferson took bronze in 10.92, representing the first time American runners have won two medals in the event since Atlanta 1996.