Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia launched her 2024 Diamond League marketing campaign in spectacular vogue, sprinting to victory within the ladies’s 100 meters on the Bislett Video games in Oslo on Thursday.
Underneath a transparent Scandinavian sky and earlier than a roaring, sold-out crowd of 15,000, Alfred clocked a swift 10.89 seconds, comfortably forward of Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (11.00) and Nice Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (11.08).
“It was my first race of the season so I used to be just a little rusty,” Alfred admitted, “however I bought the win underneath my belt which is the primary factor.” She added, beaming, “And I bought to satisfy Usain Bolt – yesterday for the primary time ever after which two days working I bought to satisfy him once more! It’s a nice honor to have met him.”
The long-lasting Usain Bolt, making his first look in Oslo since his 2017 retirement, introduced Alfred with a bouquet of flowers in a symbolic passing of the sprinting torch.
Alfred, Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medalist, now eyes a much bigger prize. “As for my season, I’m Olympic champion so I’m the one to beat, however I actually wish to add world champion to my identify as properly,” she declared forward of her subsequent cease in Stockholm.
Jordan Scott flies excessive with private greatest in triple bounce
Jamaica’s Jordan Scott produced a stunning efficiency to safe his second Diamond League victory of the season, leaping a lifetime greatest 17.34 meters to win the lads’s triple bounce.
Scott credited his preparation and swift execution: “My coach stated to me I wanted to get one in early because it was going to get cooler because the night time wore on, so I used to be happy to execute that feat on my first bounce.” Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo adopted in second (17.06m), whereas the Jamaican savored the second. “To leap my private greatest so early within the season is enjoyable, because it exhibits I’m going in the correct route.”
Scott will now flip his focus to the upcoming Paris leg of the Diamond League.
Blended fortunes for Ricketts and Smith in ladies’s triple bounce
It was almost a 3rd win of the season for Shanieka Ricketts, however the Jamaican star settled for second place within the ladies’s triple bounce. Her leap of 14.57 meters was edged out by Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez (14.72m), whereas American Jasmine Moore positioned third (14.41m).
Ricketts’ countrywoman Ackelia Smith continued to indicate encouraging kind with an identical mark of 14.26 meters, sharing fifth with Olympic champion Thea LaFond of Dominica.
Disappointment for Sada Williams within the 400m
It was a tough outing for Barbados’ Sada Williams, who positioned final within the ladies’s 400m in 50.94 seconds, far behind occasion winner Isabella Whittaker of america, who blazed to 49.58 seconds. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger (49.62) and Britain’s Amber Anning (50.24) rounded out the rostrum.
Williams, a World Championship bronze medalist, might be aiming for a powerful rebound within the subsequent leg of the circuit.
Karsten Warholm delivers a world greatest in historic 300m hurdles showdown
In one of the crucial anticipated occasions of the night time, Karsten Warholm thrilled the house crowd with a jaw-dropping efficiency within the 300m hurdles, obliterating his personal world greatest with a time of 32.67 seconds—the primary ever underneath 33 seconds.
The Norwegian star outdueled Olympic champion Rai Benjamin (33.22 PB) and Brazil’s world champion Alison dos Santos (33.38), of their first-ever assembly within the newly ratified self-discipline.
Benjamin briefly surged forward coming into the house straight, however Warholm’s trademark remaining burst powered him to victory. “This can be a enjoyable occasion,” Warholm stated post-race. “However each time I line up, regardless of the gap, I wish to run quick.”
Mena claims 200m title for Cuba
Cuba’s Reynier Mena continued his regular rise with a commanding win within the males’s 200 meters, clocking 20.20 seconds. Switzerland’s Timothe Mumenthaler was shut behind in 20.27, with Canadian Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse taking bronze in 20.33.
