Rhasidat Adeleke, Julien Alfred to make Diamond League debut in Monaco

University of Texas’ flying duo of Rhasidat Adeleke and Julien Alfred will make their debut in the Wanda Diamond League at the Herculis in Monaco on Friday
July 21, 2023, the organisers have confirmed.

Adeleke, 20, is the reigning NCAA 400m champion and one of the contenders for a podium appearance at next month’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest,
Hungary.

The 20 year old ran 49.20, a lifetime best, to win the NCAA title ahead of pre-championships favourite, Britton Wilson who holds a personal season and
lifetime best of 49.13.

Interestingly, both will rekindle their rivalry on the Stade Louis II track in Monaco as the Irish 200m and 400m record holder seeks to go one better than
the American after both are tied 1-1 in their head to head clashes.

Briton won ahead of Adeleke at the Tom Jones Memorial while the table was turned at the NCAA outdoor championships final.

Adeleke will also race against Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone
, the world 400m hurdles champion and record holder who has switched to the 400m flat and ran a world leading 48.74 in winning her first USA 400m title last weekend.

Also listed is Mary Moraa who ran 50.38 at the Kenyan World Championships trials to set a new Kenyan record.

NCAA double sprint champion, Alfred will be hoping for an explosive start to her Diamond League campaign.

The Saint Lucia athlete who achieved a 60m/200m NCAA indoor double and 100m/200m outdoor double won a silver medal over the 100m at the Commonwealth Games last year in Birmingham and all eyes will be on her to see if she could transfer her collegiate conquest to the world stage.

Alfred will be up against British duo of Neita Daryl and Dinas Asher-Smith, and American, Gabby Thomas who ran incredible 21.61 to win the American title and tops the world list for the year.

Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, the world’s second fastest woman ever in the 200m will also be in action in Monaco.