St. Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred has attributed her Bowerman Award win to her perseverance through adversity during her time in the American collegiate circuit.
The 22-year-old was recognized with this prestigious accolade at the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) convention in Denver.
Reflecting on her journey, Alfred shared, “It was quite a journey for me, from my season ending in 2019 to COVID-19 spoiling the party, which caused me to be stuck in the US with my borders closed. I had nowhere to go at all.”
The light my mom always spoke about
She continued, “[In] 2022 and 2023, I saw the light that my mom always spoke about. [I saw] the times I always prayed for.” Alfred expressed her gratitude, stating, “It means a lot to me, especially seeing how far I’ve come, the growth I’ve had. It’s just a reminder that God is real. He’s always going to be there, no matter how dark it may seem … and there will be a light at the end. I feel extremely grateful to have Him in my life.”
Alfred had a remarkable year competing for the University of Texas, achieving an undefeated record in the 100 meters and becoming the first woman in the NCAA to break the seven-second barrier while securing the Big 12 title. She also set new indoor and outdoor records in the 100 and 200 meters, earning her titles such as the Big 12 Conference Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA national indoor and outdoor track Athlete of the Year.
Her outstanding performance extended to the World Championships in Budapest, where she finished fourth in the 200 meters and fifth in the 100 meters, leaving Alfred optimistic about her future prospects. She remarked, “It just shows how much potential I have, and I hope I can get to that podium one day.”
Junior Sportswoman of the Year twice
Alfred had previously made her mark in the Caribbean as a junior athlete, winning her country’s junior Sportswoman of the Year twice due to her successes at the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games.
With her latest achievement, she believes that St. Lucia will receive increased international attention, saying, “It means a lot to them because when you mention Julien Alfred [of] St. Lucia, not many people know about St. Lucia, so you will find them going to search [and wondering], ‘Oh, where is St. Lucia.’ It will bring a lot of attraction to my country.”
The Bowerman Award is the highest honor in collegiate track and field in the United States.
