The anticipation had been bubbling all week. Fans on social media couldn’t hold back. “Julien [Alfred] will be looking to leave her mark with how impressive she has been so far,” one user declared. Another chimed in with conviction: “Can’t wait for this, everyone looks stacked but Julien has to be the favorite.” And it wasn’t just the fans—Athlos, Alexis Ohanian’s women-only track league, was hyped too. Their X-handle buzzed: “Real excited to see Julien’s 200m opener, especially after all the 400’s and 300’s she’s run so far this season!” Why all the hype?

Simple—Julien Alfred was making her long-awaited return to the 200m, her first outing over the distance since the Paris Olympics. The stakes were high. The expectations? Even higher. And when the gun went off? She delivered—no, she dominated!

On April 18, Julien Alfred stopped the clock at 21.88 seconds (0.2), blazing to victory in the Tom Jones Memorial and snatching the world lead in the event. That time toppled India Mayberry’s 22.30 from March 15, a mark that had sat atop the world rankings… until Julien touched the track. But here’s the kicker: 21.88 is just 0.02 seconds off her personal best and the St. Lucian national record. That means in her very first outdoor 200m of the season, she was a literal blink away from rewriting her own history.

So, imagine brushing shoulders with your own greatness—on your first try back. That’s not just a statement race. That’s a warning shot to the world. Just look at the names who had to accept defeat today to Julien Alfred- behind her, elite names like Favour Ofili (22.34) and Tamari Davis (22.37) were left chasing shadows. Favour held on for second, Tamari rounded out the podium in third. And Rhasidat Adeleke, another top contender? She gave it her all but landed in fourth with 22.57. This wasn’t just a race. It was a reminder. Julien Alfred had told the track world what was coming. And when the moment arrived? She delivered with the power of a prophecy fulfilled. But do you remember what she said three weeks ago?

Julien Alfred hinted at what’s coming 

When Julien Alfred stood at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on March 29, she dropped a quiet hint—almost like a whisper before the storm. “We do have one more 300 to run. But then, that’s like next week. And then we’ll be focusing on my 100 and 200.” Simple words. Routine, even. Just another checkpoint on her return to outdoor form. But what no one fully realized in that moment was that those calm words were the calm before a blaze. A spark hiding in plain sight. Because what followed wasn’t just a comeback. It was a revelation.

Behind the scenes, there was work. Grit. Pain. Sacrifice. And most importantly, trust.“You know, he has a plan. I’m just following his plan. Even though it hurts a lot, I trust him and what he has for me.” Those were Julien’s words about her coach, Edrick Floreal. Words not of comfort, but of conviction. The kind of belief forged in early mornings, aching legs, and silent reps when no one’s watching. The kind of belief that says: this will be worth it. And then came Friday, April 18. And what landed on Friday? A moment that meant everything.