When Julien Alfred steps onto the track, something electric happens. There’s a simmering energy in the air, a sense that something unexpected might unfold. And lately, that feeling has been more than just anticipation. It’s a prophecy. The Miramar stunner, where she edged out Jamaican powerhouse Shericka Jackson in the 300m, was only the beginning. Now, Alfred is proving she’s no longer just the next big thing. She is the moment.
The Saint Lucian sprint queen touched down in Europe for her first race of the season outside the United States. And lit up Zagreb like a superstar on a world tour. Racing the 200m at the prestigious Zagreb Meeting, Alfred didn’t just win. She dominated, surging across the finish in 22.15 seconds with no one else in sight. Spain’s Jael Bestué trailed nearly eight-tenths behind, and Hungary’s Boglarka Takács (23.22s) was even further adrift.
It wasn’t just a victory; it was a message. Alfred had arrived, and she wasn’t easing into this season. Alfred’s attacking it. Her stride was smooth, confident, and powerful. It was the kind of performance that makes you forget she’s still early in her outdoor campaign. What stood out even more was how comfortable she looked so far from her U.S. base. This wasn’t a cautious international debut. This was a gold-medal performance by an athlete who’s growing into a global force.
First trip across the pond was a success
Julien Alfred looked right at home in her first race of the season outside the U.S., cruising to a comfortable 22.15 victory in the 200m in Zagreb. pic.twitter.com/wpA0Ob9ZNy
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) May 24, 2025
The breeze in Zagreb might have been cool, but Alfred’s form was red-hot. And with each race, she’s building a case as the new sprinting standard in women’s athletics. This win adds serious fuel to the fire she sparked in Miramar, where she ran down a healthy Shericka Jackson in a jaw-dropping 300m finish. Now, with a confident win on European soil and speed endurance clearly in the tank, Alfred is putting the sprinting world on notice.
Paris may be in the rear-view mirror, but the road ahead is lit with promise. And Julien Alfred is leading the charge. Meanwhile, these were not the only stunning dashes coming from Alfred this season. The Saint Lucian announced her entry to the new season in style at Gainesville.
Julien Alfred made sure no one forgot her name
In her first 200m since becoming Olympic champion, the Saint Lucian sprint queen unleashed a breathtaking 21.88 at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville on Friday night, blowing away a world-class field and opening her season with authority. It was the second-fastest wind-legal outdoor 200m ever recorded in April, just 0.02 off her own national record set last year in London.
And a signal that Alfred’s fire is burning even brighter in 2025. With Favour Ofili (22.34), Tamari Davis (22.37), and Rhasidat Adeleke (22.57) trailing well behind, Alfred’s winning margin of nearly half a second underscored her complete control. And it’s not as if she hadn’t taken her time to get here — after a couple of early-season 300m races and a quiet 4x400m leg in Austin, Alfred returned to her Olympic-winning distance and delivered one of the sharpest performances of her career.
Her only comment after the race, brief but confident, said it all. She stated, “I’m really happy with the opener.” Last year, Alfred opened with 22.58 and built her season toward Olympic gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m. This year, she’s already sharper. Now owning two of the three fastest 200m times ever run in April, Alfred has once again raised the bar.
And it’s only April. As the track world takes notice, one thing is clear. That Julien Alfred is not easing into 2025 — she’s storming right through it. So, fans of track and field, come Japan and the 2025 World Championships, we can all expect something special as the Saint Lucian delivers another thriller.
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