At the Diamond League finals in Brussels on Friday, Olympic champion Julien Alfred dominated the 100-meter race, with US competitor Sha’Carri Richardson finishing way down the pack. Last week in Zurich, Richardson had emerged victorious, narrowly defeating Alfred at the finish line. At King Baudouin Stadium, however, the roles were reversed as the Saint Lucian sprinter won in 10.88 seconds.
Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith completed the podium in 11.05 seconds, followed by Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in second place with 10.92 seconds.
Knowing she had been badly beaten, Richardson eased off well ahead of the line. In 11.23 seconds, she finished eighth out of nine women in the race. “I am so happy, it feels amazing to finish my season on a good note and to take the win,” Alfred stated. “I just feel so pleased with myself. My preparation was a little challenging; after Zurich, it was quite challenging for me. However, I believe that helped me get ready for Brussels. I had so much energy today because of that. I made an effort to unwind and enjoy my final race of the season.
“However, I believe that losing made me feel like I had to perform again. My goal was to demonstrate to myself that I am a permanent fixture and that I deserve to be here.
After winning the blue riband event in Paris and earning her first-ever Olympic medal for her tiny Caribbean island nation, Alfred was only thinking about one thing. “I’m returning to Aruba and Saint Lucia now! I did not stay in Austin this year, unlike last year.”