Alfred beats Richardson in 100m sprint to win gold

Runner beats US favourite to make history for Saint Lucia

- LAWRENCE OSTLERE

The track has a new queen, and her name is Julien Alfred. Alfred woke up this morning and watched Usain Bolt win Olympic gold medals on YouTube. Then she went out and echoed her idol, leading from gun to tape, streaking away to win this women’s 100m final in utterly dominant fashion in pouring rain at the Stade de France.

She will be royalty in Saint Lucia forever more, too. The tiny Caribbean island had never won an Olympic medal despite sending 31 athletes to Games over the past 30 years. None were quite like Alfred, shy and unassuming but blessed with blistering speed. “National record” popped up on the giant screen beside her time of 10.78 seconds, in perhaps the most irrelevant footnote in Olympic history.

Behind her, American star Sha’Carri Richardson was never in touch and settled for silver in 10.87. Her US teammate Melissa Jefferson clinched bronze in 10.92 as Britain’s Daryll Neita just missed out, finishing fourth in 10.96. Dina Asher-Smith had failed to qualify, going out in the semi-finals.

“Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now,” Neita said. “I was so close to that medal I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”