“After I got out of my dry phase, I didn’t know what I was doing after that, to be honest, but just really hoping to have a better race tomorrow and better execution.” Julien Alfred admitted just 24 hours before stepping onto the track at the Stockholm Diamond League. Her concerns were clear—despite clocking a solid 10.89 seconds (+1.1 m/s) in her season opener, Alfred wasn’t satisfied. She was particularly focused on sharpening her execution in the final phase of the race. So, what did she set out to fix in Stockholm? Simple: a cleaner, more powerful finish. What followed wasn’t just a better race. It was a statement.
On June 15, just two days after her 2025 debut, Julien Alfred returned to the blocks and delivered a scorching 10.75 seconds (+0.9 m/s) to win the women’s 100m at the Stockholm Diamond League. That time didn’t just blow past the competition—it came within striking distance of her personal best (10.72) and eclipsed the 31-year-old meet record. Even more eye-catching? She did it with such ease that it sent shockwaves through the sprinting world. And with that, Coach Rob had seen enough.
In the latest episode of his YouTube podcast from June 15, the American coach didn’t mince words when addressing Sha’Carri Richardson, Alfred’s biggest rival and the reigning world champion. The message? Take Julien Alfred seriously—or risk getting left behind. “She’s [Sha’Carri] going to have to come in and come in hot because of the Olympics last year,” Rob said. “She lost in the semifinal, and she lost in the final to the same woman, Julianne Alfred, and the script was almost exactly the same. The only difference is the finals when everybody was paying attention.”
Coach Rob’s comments carry weight, especially with the World Championships looming. Last season’s head-to-head battles between Alfred and Richardson may have slipped under some radars, but that won’t be the case this year. With Alfred already near her peak and breaking records, the pressure is mounting.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 100m Semi-Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 03, 2024. Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and Sha’Carri Richardson of United States after their semi final. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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