GAINESVILLE, Florida (April 14 ) – Julien Alfred of St. Lucia proved her world-class status yet again on Friday at the 2023 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational as she picked up from where she left off during the indoor season. The NCAA Indoor 200m national champion dominated the collegiate section of the women’s 200-meter race here today, clocking a world-leading 21.91 seconds (+1.8 m/s).
Alfred’s performance not only shattered her previous outdoor personal best and St. Lucian national record of 22.46 seconds, set in Lubbock, Texas last May, but it also elevated her to the No. 2 spot among collegiate women’s sprinters in history.
Only former Kentucky sprinter and USA champion Abby Steiner, at 21.80 seconds, has gone faster than than the Commonwealth Games 100m silver medalist and the current NACAC 60m record holder.
The James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville witnessed another special run by Alfred, who won the first of the 12 heats and bettered the previous track record of 21.96 seconds set last year by LSU’s Favour Ofili. Read more: Day 1: How to watch the 2023 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational? (Order of Event Guide on April 14)
The Texas senior flashed off the corner in the lead and her competitors were unable to keep up with her pace as McKenzie Long of Ole Miss finished second with a time of 22.31 seconds, while Texas’ Rhasidat Adeleke (22.34) and Kevona Davis (22.47) also posted impressive times.
Lanae Thomas, Alfred’s fellow Longhorns teammate, won the second section with a wind-aided 22.30 (+3.6 m/s), making her the second fastest overall.
Julien Alfred’s winning time today is a program record for Texas, while Adeleke also moved up the UT performance all-time list, becoming the fourth-fastest performer in program history.
College Women’s 200m Top 25 Results – Tom Jones Invitational
- Julien Alfred, Texas, 21.91, Heat 1, +1.8 m/s
- Lanae Thomas, Texas, 22.30, Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- McKenzie Long, Ole Miss, 22.31, Heat 1, +1.8 m/s
- Rhasidat Adeleke, Texas, 22.34, Heat 1, +1.8 m/s
- Kevona Davis, Texas, 22.47, Heat 1, +1.8 m/s
- Jacious Sears, Tennessee, 22.56, Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- Thelma Davies, LSU, 22.64, Heat 3, +1.1 m/s
- Ezinne Abba, Texas, 22.66, Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- Karimah Davis, Kentucky, 22.68, Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- Dajaz Defrand, Florida State, 22.77, Heat 3, +1.1 m/s
- Jayla Jamison, South Carolina, 22.79, Heat 4, +0.7 m/s
- Mariah Ayers, Baylor, 22.90, Heat 1, +1.8 m/s
- Rosey Effiong, Arkansas, 22.91, Heat 3, +1.1 m/s
- Yanique Dayle, Ohio State, 23.03 (23.026), Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- Kennedy Simon, Texas, 23.03 (23.027), Heat 3, +1.1 m/s
- Sedrickia Wynn, Texas State, 23.09, Heat 4, +0.7 m/s
- Ackera Nugent, Arkansas, 23.10 (23.094), Heat 11, +1.2 m/s
- Imaobong Nse Uko, Baylor, 23.10 (23.098), Heat 4, +0.7 m/s
- Kamaya Debose-Epps, Miss State, 23.10 (23.099), Heat 3, +1.1 m/s
- Kynnedy Flannel, Florida, 23.11, Heat 1, +1.8 m/s
- Mekenze Kelley, Arkansas, 23.14, Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- Na’Taja Ballard, Alabama, 23.22 (23.212), Heat -1.1 m/s, 8
- Ockera Myrie, Clemson, 23.22 (23.219), Heat 2, +3.6 m/s
- Joanne Reid, Arkansas, 23.24, Heat 4, +0.7 m/s
- Beyonce Defreitas, UCF, 23.26, Heat 4, +0.7 m/s
