Monaco Diamond League 2024: Julien Alfred cruises to women's 100m victory
Julien Alfred was an impressive winner of the women’s 100m at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday (12 July 2024).
Having won the 200m at Tuesday's Gyulai István Memorial, in which Shericka Jackson pulled up with a hamstring cramp, Alfred came clear after halfway to claim her first Diamond League victory in 10.85. Tamari Davis finished strongly to edge out European champion Dina Asher-Smith for second with both women timed at 10.99 in the Stade Louis II.
After clinching her first Diamond League win in Paris last weekend, Luxembourg’s Patrizia van der Weken was fourth in 11.02 ahead of Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Alfred said, "I was specially prepared today not to make a mistake and to just focus on myself and my own race. I felt great during the race but now my legs hurt a bit because I did a heavy training.
"Of course, I cannot complain right now, I am taking the Diamond League win tonight. I feel confident. I know that all I need to do is to trust my coach and to trust myself. The coach knows what is the best for me."
Alfred was fifth behind Sha’Carri Richardson in last year’s World Championship final. With a season’s best of 10.78, only the American has run faster this season among athletes going to Paris 2024. And the 24-year-old goes to the French capital hoping to win St Lucia’s first Olympic medal.
Results from women's 100m at the 2024 Monaco Diamond League meet, Friday 12 July:
- Julien Alfred (LCA) 10.85
- Tamari Davis (USA) 10.99
- Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) 10.99
- Patrizia van der Weken (LUX) 11.02
- Marie-Josee Ta Lou Smith (CIV) 11.08
- Zoe Hobbs (NZL) 11.15
- Tamara Clark (USA) 11.25
- Aleia Hobbs (USA) 11.26