Julien Alfred Triumphs In Diamond League Final With Sha’Carri Richardson Looming As Her Biggest Test

Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has extended her golden form with another commanding display, winning the women’s 100m final at the Diamond League in Zurich in 10.76 seconds.

The Saint Lucian sprint star powered out of lane four and never looked threatened, underlining her status as the world’s premier short sprinter.

Behind her, Jamaica’s Tia Clayton crossed in 10.84 while Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith secured third in 10.94.

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American Jacious Sears finished strongly for fourth in 10.96, ahead of New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs in 11.09. The field was shaken early when Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, Africa’s fastest woman and a pre-race favourite, was disqualified for a false start.

It was a night of cool and damp conditions at Letzigrund Stadium, reminiscent of Alfred’s Paris triumph last year.

She looked unfazed by the weather and appeared more focused on maintaining rhythm and form than chasing records. The victory extends her winning streak and provides an emphatic response to recent speculation about her fitness.

The 24-year-old had not raced since July 19, when she clocked 21.71 over 200m in London — still the world’s fastest time this season at that distance.

Her absence sparked rumours of injury, but Alfred’s performance in Zurich confirmed her readiness ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.

“For me, whenever my coach feels like I’m ready to get out there, and he always says to me, he will never put me on the line if I’m not ready to compete. So I know that whenever I’m there, you know, I’m always ready to compete and not scared of anybody,” Alfred said after her victory.

She admitted that she avoids the distraction of past successes and prefers to focus only on what lies ahead. “

"I have a great team around me that keeps me grounded. And I had to realise that it’s only one championship and there’s more that I want. So, I have to realise I can’t get comfortable, because there’s always somebody coming.”

With the Diamond League title in hand, Alfred now turns her focus to Tokyo where she will face Sha’Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson and Gabby Thomas.

The women’s 100m promises to be one of the most hotly contested races of the championships.