Julien Alfred Shakes Up the Track World with a Stunning 300m Victory
About a year ago, Justin Gatlin highlighted Julien Alfred’s potential as a dual-threat sprinter, and she has been proving him right ever since. After an impressive showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics—winning gold in the 100m ahead of Sha’Carri Richardson and silver in the 200m behind Gabby Thomas—Alfred has continued to push the boundaries of her abilities.
In a surprising move, the Saint Lucian sprinter kicked off her 2025 season by competing in the 300m at the NB Indoor Grand Prix on February 3rd, a distance outside her usual 60m, 100m, and 200m specialties. However, she didn’t just participate—she dominated. Alfred clocked in at 36.16 seconds, setting a new national record and securing the 15th fastest time in history. She also bested her training partner, Dina Asher-Smith, who ran a personal best of 36.87 seconds.
This performance has sparked discussions about her potential impact in the 100m and 200m moving forward. Could she be positioning herself to challenge Gabby Thomas and Shericka Jackson in the 200m? The results are certainly raising eyebrows.
The 400m Connection: A Strategic Move for the 200m
Ato Boldon, former sprinter and NBC Sports analyst, recently revealed that Alfred’s coach, Edrick Floreal, has incorporated 400m training into her regimen for the 2025 season, aiming to enhance her endurance and strength ahead of the World Championships in September. While the 400m requires a unique balance of speed and endurance, mastering it could give her a significant edge in the latter half of the 200m race.
Alfred’s current personal bests include:
100m: 10.72 seconds
200m: 21.86 seconds
60m: 6.94 seconds
300m: 36.16 seconds
400m: 58.29 seconds
However, when compared to her top rivals, she still has ground to cover. Gabby Thomas holds a 21.60-second personal best in the 200m, while Shericka Jackson leads with 21.41 seconds. Additionally, both have significantly stronger 400m times—Jackson at 49.47 seconds and Thomas at 49.68 seconds—highlighting their superior endurance.
A Potential Game-Changer for Julien Alfred
Training in the 400m could improve Alfred’s speed retention in the 200m, allowing her to maintain a stronger kick in the final stretch. Given her rapid progress, her competitors may soon have more to worry about. While she has yet to match the consistency of Jackson and Thomas in the 200m, her growth trajectory suggests she is closing the gap.
The last time Alfred competed in the 400m was in 2017, recording a time of 58.29 seconds. However, her recent dominance in the 300m suggests she has gained significant strength and endurance. If she continues to refine her abilities over longer distances, she could become an even greater threat in the 200m and possibly shake up the current rankings.
With her dedication and the guidance of Coach Floreal, Alfred is proving that she is not just a rising star but a serious contender for the top spots in sprinting. As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on her next moves.