Olympic champion Julien Alfred entered the 2024 Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field on May 25, hoping to build on her dominance. She exploded out of the blocks, posting a strong 10.93s, only to be overtaken by American Sha’Carri Richardson’s world-leading 10.83s. Now she entered the 2025 classic, hoping to get a win this time, but only a loss came her way.
Olympic champion Julien Alfred faced her toughest test yet at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Determined to get a win this time, she had a blistering start but was edged out by America’s Melissa Jefferson‑Wooden, who clocked 10.75 seconds to Alfred’s 10.77. But all is not lost for her and a track and field legend has sent a message to her.
Citing her losses in both the Prefontaine Classics, Rodney Green expressed his concern for the 2025 World Championships in the recent episode of Ready Set Go. Justin Gatlin, weighing in on this, said, “I agree, but I also know Coach Flo. And the reason why Julian is the great athlete she is because Coach Flo knows how to communicate with her. He knows how to bring that dog out of her.” Edrick Floreal has transformed Julien into a world champion. She met Coach Flo when she was 17, upon enrolling at the University of Texas. He had a tremendous impact on both her career and her life.
“I have to give thanks to my coach. I think he is my spine and my rock,” Alfred told FloTrack before the Olympic Games, after winning the Monaco Diamond League event. Gatlin further said, “Prefontaine might not guarantee you a win, but it can fuel your drive toward Olympic gold and World Championship success. After the initial burst of anger, tears, and raw emotion fades, once Coach Flo’s words sink in, someone like Julien will come back stronger. I guarantee she’ll come back hard.”
ZAGREB, CROATIA – MAY 24, 2025: 75th Boris Hanzekovic Memorial. 200 Metres Women. Julien ALFRED LCA 75th Boris Hanzekovic Memorial. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCRO
All the track and field legend wants to say is to keep calm and have faith in Edrick Floreal. He is the man behind her Olympic gold, and anything better than that is another Olympic gold. But she wouldn’t wind a gold at world champions either, but the concern is both, Sha’Carii Richardson and Melissa Jefferson are going to be there. What are the chances if we put three in a one-one?
Can Julien Alfred Win the World Championship in Tokyo?
Julien Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson have built a fierce 100 m rivalry since Alfred’s pro debut in July 2023, where she stunned Richardson with a 10.89 s win in Hungary. Richardson responded at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, clocking 10.83s to Alfred’s 10.93s. Their biggest clash came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Alfred stormed to gold in 10.72 s, ahead of Richardson’s 10.87 s. At the Zurich Diamond League, Richardson narrowly beat Alfred with a 10.84s to 10.88s finish.
Julien Alfred and Melissa Jefferson‑Wooden had crossed paths notably in the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in Birmingham. In the 60 m final, Melissa Jefferson‑Wooden surged to victory in 7.09 s, placing ahead of Alfred, who finished fifth, one of the few times Alfred lost a 60 m at any level. In the battle of the giants at Paris Olympics, Melissa was also present clinching bronze in 10.92 s—marking the first time since Atlanta 1996 that two Americans medaled in the event.
Against Richardson, she’s shown she can outmatch and outlast one of the sport’s fiercest closers. Against Jefferson‑Wooden, she’s turned early collegiate setbacks into Olympic-stage dominance. So nothing could be said of the world champions as of right now. What are your thoughts?
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