Saint Lucia’s **Julien Alfred** has ascended to the summit of sprinting in 2025, overtaking giants like Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce. With an undefeated streak and world‑leading times in both the 100 m and 200 m, she’s emerging as the **clear favorite** for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
* At the **Stockholm Diamond League**, Alfred clocked a swift **10.75 s** in the 100 m—already the fastest time in the world so far this year ([essentiallysports.com][1], [olympics.com][2]).
* In early June’s **Tom Jones Memorial**, she blasted a **21.88 s** in the 200 m—another world‑leading effort .
* Her versatility shines through one national record after another: in the 300 m (36.05 s) and the indoor 400 m (52.97 s)—analyst Anderson Emerole highlighted these feats on *The Final Leg* podcast ([essentiallysports.com][1]).
Emerole praised her as “**the clear favorite**,” citing her flawless season and multi‑distance dominance ([essentiallysports.com][1]).
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## 🏃♀️ Comparing the Contenders
### Sha’Carri Richardson
* **2025 Form Trouble**: The reigning world champion opened with a sluggish **11.47 s** at Tokyo’s Golden Grand Prix, finishing off the podium and raising red flags ([thelapcount.com][3]).
* **Historical Performance**: She’s a force—2023 world champion in 10.65 s—but her recent starts have been rocky, especially compared to Alfred ([en.wikipedia.org][4]).
### Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce
* **Comeback Season**: Fraser‑Pryce posted a **wind‑aided 10.94 s** to kick off 2025, fueling optimism—but analysts note wind may have given her an assist ([thelapcount.com][3]).
* **Experience on Her Side**: Still, as a five‑time world champion and eight‑time Olympic medalist, her pedigree can’t be ignored ([en.wikipedia.org][5]).
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## ⚖️ Alfred’s Edge
1. **Flawless Execution**
Alfred approaches each race with precision—unlike Richardson, whose start phase has proven thorny ([reddit.com][6]).
2. **Multi‑distance Dominance**
Her national records across 100 m, 200 m, 300 m, and indoor 400 m highlight not only speed but endurance—a rare blend that positions her for greater consistency.
3. **Mental Fortitude**
Emerole noted her composed mentality and “quiet killer” efficiency—a stark contrast to rivals who sometimes chase nerves over the blocks ([essentiallysports.com][7]).
4. **No Hurdles**
With no national trials to navigate—unlike in the U.S.—Alfred can focus fully on racing, maintaining peak form into the championships .
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## 🎯 What Lies Ahead in Tokyo
Heading into the **2025 World Championships in Tokyo**, Alfred’s current form gives her a tangible edge:
* She’s the only top sprinter with **clean early-season times** in both 100 m and 200 m.
* Her margin over both Richardson’s inconsistent starts and Fraser‑Pryce’s wind‑dependent openings is growing.
* Track experts and statisticians now put her front and center in Tokyo’s medal conversation.
That said, sprinting is inherently volatile. Both veterans—Richardson with explosive speed, and Fraser‑Pryce with championship mettle—could surge back at any moment. But for now, Alfred is the one to beat.
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## 🗣️ Expert Opinion
**Anderson Emerole** (on *The Final Leg*):
> “Whether that’s… someone like a Julien Alfred… runs 21.8 seconds … showing that she’s in impeccable form and probably right now still the favorite as we go into the World Championships in Tokyo.” ([essentiallysports.com][1], [thelapcount.com][3])
This endorsement from a respected voice in track analytics underscores the weight behind Alfred’s performances.
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## 🏁 Bottom Line
* **Julien Alfred** has dominated sprints in 2025: faster times, more events, and crystal‑clear execution.
* **Sha’Carri Richardson**, despite her resume, is struggling to regain rhythm after shaky starts.
* **Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce** remains classy and dangerous—but has yet to deliver a clean, fast opening burst this season.
As the Tokyo World Championships approach, all eyes will be on Alfred—as **the early leader in a deep, unpredictable field**. If her season continues on its current trajectory, Saint Lucia’s sprint prodigy may very well sprint her way to global supremacy.
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If you’d like a breakdown of her race-by-race splits or comparisons to past champions, I’d be happy to dig deeper!
[1]: https://www.essentiallysports.com/olympics-track-and-field-news-shacarri-richardson-warned-of-tough-challenge-as-julien-alfred-shelly-ann-fraser-pryce-show-major-improvements/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Sha’Carri Richardson Warned of Tough Challenge as Julien Alfred, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Show Major Improvements – EssentiallySports”
[2]: https://olympics.com/en/news/diamond-league-final-2024-julien-alfred-wins-womens-100m-shacarri-8th?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Diamond League Final 2024: Julien Alfred takes women’s 100m title as Sha’Carri Richardson trails home in eighth”
[3]: https://www.thelapcount.com/p/lap-221-the-weekend-where-points-matter?utm_source=chatgpt.com “The Weekend Where Points Matter ⏱️”
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sha%27Carri_Richardson?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Sha’Carri Richardson”
[5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelly-Ann_Fraser-Pryce?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce”
[6]: https://www.reddit.com/r/trackandfield/comments/1fg3hbb?utm_source=chatgpt.com “My girl Sha’Carri Richardson needs to improve her starts”
[7]: https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-olympics-news-track-and-field-news-not-shelly-ann-fraser-pryce-american-track-and-field-marks-unknown-star-to-win-big-at-paris-olympics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Not Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, American Track and Field Marks Unknown Star to Win Big at Paris Olympics – EssentiallySports”