Chalien Dantes / Contributor

A photo finish separated Julien Alfred from Melissa Jefferson Wooden by just five thousandths of a second in the women’s 100 metres at the Zürich Diamond League on Thursday, August 27th, with both athletes clocking 10.70 seconds and, of course, Alfred taking the win.

Both sprinters were officially credited with 10.70 seconds, but the Paris 2024 Olympic champion got the victory after crossing the line in 10.693, narrowly ahead of Jefferson-Wooden’s 10.698. Sha’Carri Richardson finished third in 10.97, followed closely by Tina Clayton in fourth place with a time of 10.98 and Amy Hunt taking fifth in 11.04.

The victory was the perfect comeback for Alfred after Jefferson Wooden handed her a first defeat of the season just four days earlier, winning 10.78 to 10.83. This time, the Saint Lucian produced the stronger finish in a race decided by the smallest of margins. Her 10.70 performance also rewrites Saint Lucia’s record books, lowering her previous national 100 metre record by 0.02 seconds. Attention now turns to the 200 metres, which Alfred says she is looking forward to contesting at her next Diamond League final.