Alfred Cruises To Diamond League 200m Victory In Brussels, Rules Out Sprint Double In Budapest

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred successfully returned to the 200m on Friday, winning the event at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels in 21.79 seconds.

Alfred, the Olympic 100m champion, had not contested the 200m since the London Diamond League in July. She admitted that stepping back into the longer sprint required some adjustment after focusing on the 100m.

‘I haven´t run the 200m since July at the London Diamond League. I have to figure it out again because this distance is so different to execute compared to the 100m. It felt fairly new stepping back into the event, but a win is a win, so I am really happy with the race,’ Alfred said.

She added that despite the victory, she will not attempt the 100m-200m double at next week’s World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, confirming that Friday’s race was her final 200m of the season.

‘Although it went well today, I´m not planning on doing the double at the Ultimate Championship. This was my last 200m of the season. Now I´m going back to the 100m, my baby,’ she said.

Alfred entered the Brussels final as the world-leading 200m runner this season, having run a personal-best 21.51 in Monaco in July.