It seems things just aren’t getting better for Shericka Jackson. You might think we are exaggerating, but look at her run since Paris last year. While she was set to compete at both the 100m and 200m finals, things ended up horribly. Unseen circumstances saw her pull out from the 100m finals. But while fans were hopeful that last year’s bad luck wouldn’t continue this year,. Yet Shericka’s dance with the devil failed this year as well. Another day, another loss. But what’s the story behind it? Well, there’s quite a bit to that.
The tussle between Shericka Jackson and Julien Alfred in the Miramar Invitational 2025 was heavily hyped. It was touted as the clash of the titans. On one hand, there was Julien Alfred, who was the Olympic 100m champion. On the other hand, Jackson was the 200m World Champion. And since the dash was for 300m, the Jamaican was supposed to be holding all the aces. Unfortunately, once again, things didn’t quite go her way.
Alfred exploded off the blocks right away. Maintaining a healthy lead, Alfred looked way ahead of the competition. And that included Shericka Jackson as well! Quite expectedly, as the race came to an end, it was a heartbreak for Jackson. While she took the second position with a timing of 36.13s, Julien Alfred got the crown, clocking 36.05s. Well, not only did Alfred clock the fastest time, but she also created yet another history.
Her time of 36.05s was also the National record for St. Lucia. Since the Paris Olympics, Saint Lucia has been actively dominating the female track proceedings, courtesy of Julien Alfred. Meanwhile, for Shericka Jackson, it might be time for her to get back to the drawing board and regroup. After all, Jackson did not provide a suitable justification for her Olympic withdrawal.
100m Olympic Champ Julien Alfred beats 200m World Champ Shericka Jackson in Miramar Invite 300m! pic.twitter.com/cuCmlqg8io
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) April 5, 2025
The only thing we know is that she had some kind of injury issue. Fortunately, that is not the case with Julien Alfred, though. In fact, to prepare herself for the 300m, Alfred recently stepped away from her favorite 60m event! Surely, moving forward with a plan, it looks like Alfred is bound to achieve greater success. But as of now, her Olympic success means much more than just records.
Records alone don’t drive Julien Alfred — then what does?
Becoming the fastest woman alive wasn’t just about speed for Julien Alfred. It was more about sacrifice, self-belief, and an unrelenting drive to prove one thing. That she belongs among the greats. At just 23, she made history for Saint Lucia, but the road to Olympic glory was paved with heartache and distance from everything she once called home. While some might think being the first gold medalist for your country is great, only few know the path of thorns behind and beyond it.
Alfred reflected on the emotional cost of leaving Saint Lucia to pursue track in Jamaica and the U.S. She stated, “The sacrifice to leave my family at a tender age, the age of 14, to just chase my dreams—it was a tough decision for me.” Her journey wasn’t without heartbreak. The loss of her father in 2013 almost derailed her path entirely. Julien confessed, “I stopped track & field during that time, just grieving for him.”
Despite the injuries and emotional toll, Alfred emerged stronger, driven not just by the desire to win but by something deeper. “My motivation is to be the best in the world, to be my best self, the best athlete I can be, and to prove to myself that I belong here,” she said. Titles and records may be coveted, but for Julien Alfred, it’s about becoming the best version of herself for her country. And more so for the girl who once left everything behind to chase a dream.
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