Saint Lucia’s Olympic 100m champion, Julien Alfred, has finished second in the social media fan vote for the World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year, as reported by the St. Lucia Times. The fan voting, which closed on Monday, was conducted across platforms including X, Instagram, and Facebook, where Alfred made an impressive showing among the world’s top athletes.
At the close of voting, the USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone led the social media poll with a combined total nearing 190,000 votes, primarily driven by her strong Instagram performance. Alfred finished with 126,906 votes, securing her position ahead of Kipyegon, who amassed 98,000 votes, and Thomas, who rounded out the top with just over 92,000 votes.
Alfred dominated the Facebook poll, collecting 37,000 votes to lead that platform. She was closely followed by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who secured 35,000 votes on Facebook. Kipyegon, a standout 1500m runner with three Olympic titles and a world record in her event, was Alfred’s main competition, as no other athlete came close to their tally, with the next highest reaching only 18,000 votes.
Instagram proved decisive for the vote, as USA’s 400m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion, McLaughlin-Levrone, surged ahead with over 180,000 votes, taking a commanding lead. Alfred, alongside 200m Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and Dominican Republic’s 400m gold medalist Marileidy Paulino, each garnered over 80,000 votes on the platform.
X (formerly known as Twitter) saw lower voting figures overall, with Kipyegon gaining nearly 15,000 votes, followed by Beatrice Chebet, a 5K and 10K champion and world record holder in the 10K, with just over 5,000 votes. Alfred received more than 2,500 votes on the platform.
The social media vote, however, accounts for just 25 per cent of the final result, with the World Athletics Council’s vote contributing 50 per cent and the World Athletics Family’s vote adding the remaining 25 per cent. The top two nominees will be invited to the World Athletics Gala in Monaco this December, with the finalists determined by November 4. At that point, a final fan vote will be held on Inside Track, offering registered users another opportunity to weigh in on the selection of the World Athletes of the Year.
Julien Alfred named Best Female Athlete of Paris 2024 by ANOC
St Lucia’s sprint sensation Julien Alfred has been awarded the prestigious Best Female Athlete of the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). Alfred, who dominated the 100m event with a lifetime-best 10.72 seconds, was present to receive the accolade at a grand ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, honoring standout athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games.
Alfred, 23, delivered a spectacular performance at the Paris Games, capturing gold in the women’s 100m final and securing a silver in the 200m with a time of 22.08 seconds. Her 100m victory, marked by a personal best, cemented her place as one of the fastest women in the world and brought home an Olympic gold medal for St. Lucia, a historic achievement for the Caribbean nation.
The St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) congratulated Alfred on her win, expressing pride in her accomplishments and the impact she continues to have on young athletes across the island. “We extend heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Julien Alfred on being awarded this remarkable accolade. We hope her continued successes inspire present and future athletes,” the SLOC stated, emphasizing Alfred’s role in representing St. Lucia on the global stage.
With this award, Alfred joins an elite group of Olympic athletes celebrated for their dedication and excellence, marking a significant moment for her career and St. Lucian sports. Her achievements in Paris underscore her status as one of the brightest stars in athletics, inspiring fans worldwide and leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Games.
Julien Alfred and Marileidy Paulino among nominees for World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year
St Lucia's Julien Alfred and the Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino have been named among the six nominees for the 2024 World Athletics Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, following their remarkable achievements during the season. This nomination is part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, which recognizes the year’s top performers across various disciplines.
Alfred, who had a stellar year, claimed the Olympic 100m gold in Paris and also secured the World Indoor 60m title earlier in the year. She is also the Diamond League 100m champion. Her nomination is a testament to her exceptional performances that have solidified her as one of the premier sprinters on the global stage.
Paulino, the Dominican Republic’s 400m star, also earned her spot on the list with her dominant displays throughout the season. Unbeaten in 2024, Paulino clinched the Olympic 400m title in Paris and was crowned the Diamond League 400m champion, a testament to her consistency and strength over the quarter-mile distance.
Joining Alfred and Paulino as nominees are Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion; Faith Kipyegon, another Kenyan who set the World 1500m record and took Olympic gold in the same event; Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the USA, the Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion; and Gabby Thomas of the USA, who won the Olympic 200m and was part of the gold-medal-winning 4x100m and 4x400m teams.
The finalists for the Track Athlete of the Year will be determined through public voting on World Athletics' social media platforms, with voting set to close on October 27. This year’s nominees highlight some of the most memorable performances at major events like the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and the one-day meeting circuits.
In addition to the impressive list of female nominees, World Athletics has also announced the contenders for the 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year. These nominees represent some of the most outstanding performances from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and other major events across the season.
The nominees for 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year are:
Rai Benjamin (USA)
Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion
World 400m hurdles leader
Grant Holloway (USA)
Olympic 110m hurdles champion
World indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway)
Olympic 5000m champion
World 3000m record
Noah Lyles (USA)
Olympic 100m champion
Olympic 200m bronze medalist
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)
Olympic 200m champion
World 200m leader
Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya)
Olympic 800m champion
Diamond League 800m champion
These nominees reflect the incredible depth of talent in men’s track and field, with standout performances in multiple disciplines, including sprints, hurdles, middle-distance, and long-distance events.
Voting is now open on World Athletics' social media platforms and will close on October 27. The finalists for both the men’s and women’s awards will be selected based on public votes, and the winners will be revealed at the World Athletics Awards later this year.
St Lucia Olympic Committee president congratulates Julien Alfred on CANOC Sports Awards triumph
The President of the St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC), Alfred Emmanuel, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Julien Alfred after her stunning achievements at the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards held in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday night. Alfred was honored with the Female Sports Personality of the Year and Caribbean Breakthrough Award, adding to her growing list of accolades during an exceptional 2024 season.
On behalf of the entire Olympic family in St Lucia, Emmanuel praised Alfred’s dedication and hard work, which have propelled her to the pinnacle of world athletics.
“On behalf of the executive board of the St Lucia Olympic Committee and the entire Olympic family in St Lucia, I want to extend sincere congratulations to Julien for attaining yet two more awards during her outstanding 2024 season,” Emmanuel said. “She has shown that dedication and hard work pays off. We have no doubt that before 2024 is over there are many other awards that she will receive for her outstanding season. Congratulations Julien and remain focused and healthy, and we look forward to the 2025 season.”
Alfred’s Caribbean Breakthrough Award celebrated her remarkable rise in track and field, where she delivered electrifying performances throughout the year. She shared the honour with Thea LaFond of Dominica, who has also shone on the international stage, particularly in the triple jump.
The prestigious Female Sports Personality of the Year award solidified Alfred’s standing as one of the Caribbean’s brightest stars in athletics. In 2024, she won the World Indoor 60m title in Glasgow, followed by a historic victory in the Olympic 100m final, setting a new national record of 10.72 seconds, the second-fastest time in the world this year. She capped her season by claiming the 100m Diamond League title in Brussels.
Alfred’s triumphs have not only brought immense pride to St Lucia but have also inspired countless young athletes across the Caribbean. As she continues her journey, both on and off the track, the nation eagerly anticipates more success from her in the future.
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