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The Millrose Games will pose the perfect ground for Dina Asher-Smith to announce her landing in the Olympic year. The British track and field champion had already spent more than a year on the sideline. In the Oregon World Championship, Dina Asher-Smith donned the British jersey for the last time to compete against her opponents. So this time, she mollified the social media with her appearance news beforehand. But before that, the New Mexico Collegiate Meet registered itself as the practice ground for her to check the depth of water.
But eventually, the WAC medalist made it to the DNF list. For her, the day came out to be a tremor. One of her raging competitors flexed the muscles to win the race, that too, by making a record.
Julien Alfred shows her prowess again
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This year’s New Mexico Collegiate Classic was famed for being shown in LSU’s color. The track and field team already put Brianna Lyston’s name on the 60m-legend’s list. But in the 200m event in the women’s category, Julien Alfred evaporated everyone to set her timing at 22.16s. Eventually, the Track & Field Gazette unfurled the news on X. It added, “Julien Alfred absolutely destroyed the field in the women’s 200m at the NM Collegiate Classic, storming to a World Lead of 22.16s.” At the event, Dina Asher-Smith was also a participant. But the British star pulled out her name from the list following an injury scare. However, that couldn’t deter the WAC Budapest finalist from penning the record.
22.16s!!😳🔥🔥
Julien Alfred 🇱🇨 absolutely destroyed the field in the women's 200m at the NM Collegiate Classic, storming to a World Lead of 22.16s.
Kevona Davis 🇯🇲 came through for 2nd in a Season's Best of 22.90s while Dina Asher-Smith 🇬🇧 was a DNF.👀 pic.twitter.com/c9czv2uRQD
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) February 3, 2024
In crafting the record, the St. Lucian defeated Kevona Davis. The Jamaican ran her heart out to register her season-best performance. But that was way behind Alfred. Eventually, this performance of hers evaded the timing she registered in the semifinal of Budapest WAC last year. In the final, however, Julien Alfred could earn fourth place. But that performance came when the podiums witnessed legends like Shericka Jackson and Sha’Carri Richardson. Moreover, this timing was a staggering improvement over Alfred’s 22.28 just a few days ago. It was a message to Dina Asher-Smith somehow.
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The bonding Dina Asher-Smith shares with Julien Alfred
Nowadays, Dina Asher-Smith continues her track and field training in Austin. Eventually, Julien Alfred’s training facility is also the same. So in that sense, the 22-year-old sprinter might have wanted to send a few thanks to the Olympian for her tips. But in the coming Millrose Games, Alfred will be the fierce opponent to her.
Read more: 41-Year Record Shattered by US Track and Field Athlete at NCAA Championships
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The penultimate 60m event frames the NCAA star as the second-fastest woman of all time. Last year she almost disregarded the 60m indoor world record. In the 200m event as well, Alfred performed better than Dina Asher-Smith multiple times last year. However, as of now, Smith’s participation chance is in limbo after the injury in the NM Collegiate Meet. But Julien Alfred already started the year on a higher note.
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