Julien Alfred doesn’t warm up, she explodes. The St Lucian sprint queen sent shockwaves through the track world last month in Gainesville when she stormed to a sizzling 21.88 in her first 200m of the year. That time, just two-hundredths off her national record, marked not just a return, but a warning. A warning that Alfred is not easing into 2025. She’s charging into it with something to prove. She didn’t just win in Florida; she dominated. Favour Ofili, Tamari Davis, and Rhasidat Adeleke were left chasing shadows, finishing nearly half a second behind.

This performance was no fluke. It was history in the making. Alfred’s time stands as the second-fastest legal 200m ever recorded so early in the season, and considering she last ran the distance during the Olympic final in Paris, where she captured silver, it speaks volumes. Her transition from indoor prep to immediate outdoor supremacy was seamless. She’d logged a pair of strong 300m efforts (36.16 and 36.05) and anchored a 4x400m, but none of it quite prepared the world for what she’d unleash when back in her favored half-lap.

Now, the stage is set for Alfred’s official return to the global spotlight in the 200m as she joins the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold lineup in Zagreb this Saturday. It’s her debut appearance at the prestigious Hanzekovic Memorial. And it couldn’t be better timed. Alfred’s Gainesville run wasn’t just a season-opener; it was a statement that her Olympic fire hasn’t dimmed. And Zagreb will mark her next major step in a carefully measured campaign toward the World Championships. In a field that includes Spain’s Jael Bestue, Alfred is not just the favorite. She’s the spectacle.

But don’t expect her to merely cruise to victory. With the Zagreb meeting record sitting at 22.04, Julien has more than the top step of the podium in her sights. She’s already come within touching distance of that mark last month, and with her form peaking, breaking it seems less a question of if and more of when. This isn’t just about race wins. It’s about building something greater. Each performance is a block in her tower of dominance, one that she hopes will rise all the way to World Championship gold.

For now, all eyes turn to Zagreb, where the sprint world waits with bated breath. Alfred’s Gainesville fireworks lit the fuse. Now, Zagreb could be the next explosion. If her first 200m of the season is anything to go by, we’re not watching an athlete return to form. We’re watching one redefine it. Meanwhile, with Alfred in such a fiery form, the St. Lucian recently humbled Shericka Jackson in Miramar.

Julien Alfred stuns Shericka Jackson with blazing 300m win in Miramar

Julien Alfred sent a message to the sprinting world in Miramar, and Shericka Jackson was on the receiving end. At the 2025 Miramar Invitational on Saturday, the reigning Olympic 100m champion surged past the double world 200m champion in a thrilling 300m battle, stopping the clock at a national record 36.05 seconds. It wasn’t just a win, but was simply a statement.

Jackson, known for her explosive speed around the bend, executed her trademark start to perfection, roaring out of the blocks and taking early control of the race. But Alfred, with patience and precision, reeled her in down the home straight. The Saint Lucian star’s strength over the unfamiliar distance shone through as she edged Jackson by 0.08 seconds, handing the Jamaican a rare defeat in a flat sprint. Jessika Gbai of the Ivory Coast secured third in 36.24 seconds, but all eyes were fixed on the duel up front.

For Alfred, it was more than just a victory, it was evidence that her sprinting prowess isn’t limited to the straightaway. “Going forward, I am just going to keep on working hard and trust myself,” she stated after the race, her calm words in contrast to the fireworks on the track. With Shericka still working her way back to peak form after missing the Paris Olympics, Alfred’s early-season performance gives her a psychological edge, and possibly a tactical one. More so because the build-up to the major championships begins. One thing is clear. That Julien Alfred is no longer chasing the pack. She’s now the one being chased.