Already when the semi-finals were to be decided, it became dramatic.
This when the Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce did not come to the start.
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Was third on the year’s best list
Fraser-Pryce’s course was empty at the Stade de France when the second semi-final – later won by Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred in 10.84 – was decided.
The same Alfred, who before the Olympics was third on the year’s best list with 10.78, then won the final – and as she did.
Won the indoor WC
Alfred was completely superior and finished in a fine time of 10.72 – a whopping 15 hundredths ahead of the early favorite from the USA: Sha’carri Richardson.
23-year-old Alfred, who last winter won 60 meters at the Indoor WC in Scotland, was jubilantly happy when the victory was over and hardly seemed to understand what she had done as she celebrated and ran with the blue flag around her.
– It feels fantastic, she said in a TV interview afterwards.
Also Olympic bronze for the USA
The gold was not only the first Olympic gold for the Caribbean island nation, which has a population of just 179,000, but also their first Olympic medal at all.
– It probably means a lot for the country. I’m sure they watched at home and are celebrating now, and my youth coach is probably drinking a lot of ice right now, says Alfred.
The bronze was taken by the USA’s Melissa Jefferson, in a time of 10.92.
So what happened to Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce? Well, she sustained an injury during the warm-up, reports Jamaica Observer.
Gold also for Dominica
Incidentally, Saint Lucia was not the only Caribbean island nation to claim its first Olympic medal this Saturday night. Shortly after Alfred’s gold in the 100 meters, Thea LaFond of Dominica took gold in the triple jump by jumping 15.02.
The silver went to Jamaica’s Shanieka Rickett and the bronze went to Jasmine Moore, USA.