Britain’s sprinting sensation Dina Asher-Smith had high praise for Saint Lucian star Julien Alfred following an electrifying 100m race in Brussels, where Alfred claimed the Diamond League trophy.
The Olympic champion edged out Asher-Smith by just four hundredths of a second, clocking 10.88 seconds to the Brit’s 10.92, capping off an extraordinary season in style.
Alfred’s victory continues her historic run, having won Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medals—a 100m gold and a 200m silver—at the Paris 2024 Games. Just as she had done in Paris, Alfred showcased her dominance, establishing an early lead by 30 meters that she never relinquished.
Asher-Smith, who had been in stellar form since the Olympics, was Alfred’s closest challenger, nearly pulling off a dramatic victory in the final stages. “I’m really happy for Julien, she’s continuing her journey as the champion that she is,” Asher-Smith said after the race.
“She is a lovely person. Obviously, I was always rooting for myself, but as soon as I was in the final, I wanted Julien to do well, so just seeing her kind of put together such a great race, win the Olympics, and do it for her island as well, it was exciting to see.”
Alfred’s triumph not only solidifies her status as one of the brightest talents in the sprinting world, but it also sparked national celebrations in Saint Lucia.
The country has declared a national holiday on September 27 to honor her Olympic success, with plans for a motorcade parade and a mural of Alfred outside her primary school.
Asher-Smith, while reflecting on her own performance, expressed her excitement for Alfred’s upcoming homecoming. “I am looking forward to the pictures on social media when she goes home because I do not think she will be ready for the reception!” she joked.
The Brussels race also featured other notable sprinters, with Daryll Neita finishing fourth in 11.14 seconds and Sha’Carri Richardson, who struggled on the night, finishing eighth in 11.23 seconds.
For Asher-Smith, ending the season on a high after the disappointment of the Paris Olympics was a key takeaway from Brussels, even as she contended with cold conditions.
“At the end of the day, you always want to run fast. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first or the last race of the season,” she said. “But these performances give me a lot of courage for next year. And I’m used to the European weather, but still, it was cold today.”
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