Texas-ex Julien Alfred beats Sha'Carri Richardson for spot in Olympics 100m women's finals
Former Texas sprinter Julien Alfred proved herself as the fastest in college track and field while on the 40-acres. Now, she's on her way to grabbing the title of fastest in the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Saint Lucia representative beat out viral United States runner Sha'Carri Richardson in the semifinals of the 100 meter heat with a 10.84 second sprint, showing that the Dallas native might be in for a fight in the finals. Richardson finished with a 10.89 time.
It is worth noting that Richardson's personal best is a 10.65 at the Budapest World Athletics Championships, meaning that there's probably more left in her tank. In order for Alfred to beat that, she'll have to break her own personal best of 10.78 in the finals.
Alfred's 2022-23 season with Texas cemented her as not only one of the best athletes in Texas history, but as one of the best in NCAA history. She completed the short sprints double-double at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, becoming the first Big 12 woman to ever accomplish that feat and the first to do it nationally since 1993. She also led the way as the Longhorns won their fifth outdoor track title in 2023, their first since 2004.
The 100 meter finals will begin at 2:20 p.m. central time, with Alfred, Richardson, Tia Clayton, Daryll Neita, Mellisa Jefferson, Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, Mujinga Kambundji and Twanisha Terry competing for a spot on the podium.