Alfred outduels Jackson over 300m

April 07, 2025
Shericka Jackson
Shericka Jackson

MIRAMAR, Florida:

While the 300m is seldom the headline event at a track meet, the electrifying showdown between Julien Alfred and Shericka Jackson at the Miramar Invitational here in Broward County, Florida, came down to a nail-biting battle.

In the end, Alfred held off a late charge from Jackson to claim victory in the women's three-quarter-lap race.

Competing in what was likely her final over-distance race of the season, Alfred blazed to a 36.05-second finish, smashing her own Saint Lucian national record and climbing to 28th on the all-time list.

The reigning Olympic 100m gold medallist had previously clocked 36.16 indoors in February, but this time, she faced a stiffer challenge from the Jamaican Jackson, the world's premier 200m sprinter, who was returning from an injury.

Drawn in lane four with Jackson beside her in lane three, Alfred exploded from the blocks and quickly reeled in Ivory Coast's Jessika Gbai by the 50m mark. Jackson, a seasoned 400m specialist, steadily closed the gap, pulling level with Alfred, the Paris 2024 200m silver medallist, as they rounded the bend.

But in a display of sheer determination, the younger star found another gear in the home stretch, surging ahead to seal the win.

Jackson crossed the line in 36.13 for second, while Gbai finished third in a time of 36.24. Barbados' Sada Williams clocked 36.49 for fourth.

-CMC

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