Paris 2024: Julian Alfred Wins Saint Lucia's First Gold As Nigeria's Medal Hope In Women's 100-meter Is Dashed

 

Rosemary Chukwuma did not contend for the medals in the women's 100-meter after failing to qualify for the anticipated final for finishing eighth in a time of 11.39s in the semi-final. 

The Nigerian sprinter was on Lane 1 and got on really quick but was soon overtaking by other athletes as she gradually regressed to the back in eighth. In the final, in the top spot for gold medal was Saint Lucia's Julian Alfred in 10.72s, for silver was American Sha'Carri Richardson in 10.87s, and another American, Melissa Jefferson won the bronze.

Julian had through the Heats and semi-final maintained her dominance of the track. The medal won for Saint Lucia will be the country's first ever Olympic gold and their first in Paris. 

Chukwuma's performance was below her time set from Heat 5 in 11.29 in third behind Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith in second and Ewa Swoboda in first. More so, neither Ewa nor Dina will be participating in the final as they didn't reach qualifying positions in the semi-final.