Diamond League Final 2024: Julien Alfred takes women's 100m title as Sha'Carri Richardson trails home in eighth
Olympic gold medallist Alfred held off a resurgent Dina Asher-Smith to take victory in Brussels as world champion Richardson toiled in the cold.
Athletics
Julien Alfred took the women's 100m title at the Diamond League Final in Brussels on Friday (13 September) with Sha'Carri Richardson back in a distant eighth place.
Alfred beat Richardson in the women's 100m final at Paris 2024, but the American exacted revenge at the final regular season Diamond League meeting of 2024 in Zurich earlier this month.
In the end-of-season showdown in distinctly chilly conditions in the Belgian capital, Alfred made a solid start alongside British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith with Richardson off the pace. Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith, wearing leggings in the cold, chased the pair with the reigning world champion failing to pick up.
In the end, Alfred took victory in 10.88 with Asher-Smith clocking 10.92 in second. Ta Lou-Smith was third in 11.05 ahead of Daryll Neita.
With a podium finish out of reach, Richardson eased down inside the last 10 metres to cross the line in eighth place in 11.23.
The win caps a wonderful year for Alfred who won St Lucia's first Olympic medal in Paris and backed up her 100m gold with silver in the 200m.
"It means a lot to me," the Olympic champion shared about her Diamond League title. "It's a good ending to end the season and to prove to myself that I belong amongst the great athletes."
When asked about her final time, Alfred responded: "Nobody remembers times to be honest, but everybody remembers your titles."
Result from women's 100m at Memorial Van Damme (Diamond League Final), Brussels on 13 September 2024:
- Julien Alfred (LCA) 10.88
- Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) 10.92
- Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) 11.05
- Daryll Neita (GBR) 11.14
- Patrizia van der Weken (LUX) 11.16
- Gina Bass (GAM) 11.19
- Tamari Davis (USA) 11.21
- Sha'Carri Richardson (USA) 11.23
- Rani Rosius (BEL) 11.37