The streets of Ciceron, St. Lucia’s capital, were overflowing. A small Caribbean island with a population of 180,000—compared to sprinting powerhouse USA’s 346 million and Jamaica’s 2.8 million—the nation had its breath caught in its mouth. One 100m run and glory would be theirs. As Julien Alfred lined up beside fan-favorite Sha’Carri Richardson, no one had expected the 23-year-old to make any difference. However, exactly 10.72 seconds later, and 0.15 clear of Richardson, history was rewritten. The world left stunned. Now, eight months later, another challenge awaited.
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On April 5, Alfred arrived at the Miramar Invitational in Florida for a women’s 300-meter battle. This time, though, there was a new hurdle to cross—one who is a double 200m world champion and was back for her second race after pulling out of the Paris Olympics owing to an injury. Shericka Jackson was fresh off a second-place finish (7.18 seconds) at the Women’s 60m at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Development Meet in January behind Jodean Williams (7.15 seconds). However, when Alfred stormed past Jackson, the race didn’t just end with a national record. It ignited a digital war between fan bases that had been brewing for months. Sounds confusing?
TC Management brought together some of the biggest names in track and field for what was supposed to be a celebration of elite performance. But once the results hit the timeline with the Paris Olympic gold medalist clocking a blistering 36.05 seconds over Jackson’s 36.16, and even setting a new Saint Lucian national record and moving to 28th on the all-time list—celebrations turned to confrontation. Social media users clashed hard with Julien faithfuls.
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Many thought the 300m win was a fluke. But for those paying attention, Julien Alfred is quietly cooking up something big. Not only is she dominating her usual territory in the 100m and 200m, but she’s also been diving into a whole new world: the 400m. Just days before Miramar, she delivered a jaw-dropping 49.8-second anchor split in the 4x400m relay at Texas Relays. It wasn’t just fast. It was fearless. Then came an interview with Forbes’ Katelyn Hutchison, where Julien played it cool. “I’m really just having fun, to be honest… especially when it comes to the longer workouts.” A relaxed tone, sure. But no one trains for the 400 casually. Not at this level.
Poll of the day
Poll 1 of 5
Do you think Julien Alfred is on her way to surpassing the legacy of Jamaican sprint legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah?
Yes, she’s the future of track and field
No, the Jamaican legends have set an unbeatable standard
Maybe, but she needs more time to prove herself
It’s too early to make such comparisons
Do you think Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track can revive interest in track and field?
Yes, it’s a bold vision that needs time
No, the poor debut shows it’s doomed
Maybe, but it needs better marketing
Only if it returns to traditional event names
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
How do you feel about the rebranding of track events like calling the 200m the “Long Sprint”?
It’s innovative and needed for new fans
It’s confusing and unnecessary
I don’t care as long as the races are exciting
It disrespects the sport’s traditions
Do you think Gable Steveson’s constant switching between sports is damaging his legacy?
Yes, he’s squandering his potential
No, it’s his career to explore
Maybe, but he can still redeem himself
I don’t care as long as he competes
Should Gable Steveson focus solely on wrestling to fulfill his Olympic potential?
Yes, he should commit to wrestling
No, he should explore other sports
He should balance both wrestling and other sports
It’s too late for him to focus on wrestling
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
But the real mic-drop moment came when Julien casually said, “Now, I’m getting better for the 200 because, in my head, that’s my weaker event.” Wait. The 200? Her weaker event? This from the same athlete who took silver in Paris with a jaw-dropping 21.86? Who’s currently ranked fourth in the world? The only reason she didn’t take gold was Gabby Thomas outrunning her by three-hundredths of a second.
Fans feud as Julien Alfred sets the track on fire
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Track fans are known for their passion. But at Miramar, that passion boiled over. One viewer called out the tone of Jackson fans, saying, “You guys are the ones being weird ‘didn’t even sweat’, ”much better” and she lost so I don’t know what you guys are excited about kinda sounds like you’re disrespecting Alfred to me.” And honestly? They have a point.
Julien Alfred just set a national record. She clocked a 36.05 to win the 300m, defeating one of Jamaica’s most decorated sprinters. That kind of performance doesn’t just happen. It comes from relentless work, Olympic grit, and a mentality sharpened by close calls like her silver in Paris. So yes, the hype is deserved. Fans defending her are simply calling for recognition of that moment.
Still, the pushback was fierce. One fan posted, “Julien Alfred cannot beat Shericka, Elaine or Shelly. She is not in their class.” But let’s unpack that. Elaine Thompson-Herah is a triple Olympic gold medalist. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce? The “Pocket Rocket” has eight Olympic medals and has redefined what longevity looks like in sprinting, even winning world gold as a 32-year-old mother. Shericka Jackson? A global 200m queen. So sure, Alfred isn’t yet on that legacy tier, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t rapidly making her way up there.
The emotion peaked with fans drawing battle lines. “You sound delusional and why still in denial after all these victories haha we can’t hear you from all the way up here,” one fan of the St. Lucian track sensation gloated. “If you look at Shelly’s winning time at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Julien ran faster. Julien is world class and here to stay.” If you think this is a tough criticism, brace yourself for the next one!
“Stop mentioning washed up yesterdays papers.” Yikes! Now that is a harsh jab. But is it fair to classify the likes of Shelly, Thompson-Herah, and Shericka Jackson as people of the past? Surely, not too long ago at the Tokyo Olympics, the three occupied the podium of the women’s 100m event; a true moment of national pride for Jamaica.
As spectacular as Julien Alfred is, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s legacy cannot be erased. She changed the sport forever. What Julien Alfred is doing now doesn’t replace that; it builds on it. This isn’t a generational wipeout. It’s a generational collision. But what do you think about this rivalry? Let us know in the comments below!
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