by Stuart Weir
This is the second story by Stuart Weir on the Diamond League Finals, for day 1, September 13, 2024. Stuart wrote about the Women’s 100m final.
Women’s 100m
The women’s 100m had an end-of-year feel to it. Julien Alfred won in 10.88 to confirm her brilliant season. She won the Olympic 100m, the World Indoors 60m, the Monaco Diamond League, etc., and a host of second-place finishes, including the Olympic 200m.
Alfred said: “I am so happy; it feels amazing to finish my season on a good note and to take the win. I am just so proud of myself. My preparation was a bit difficult; it was really hard for me after Zurich [she was second in 10.88]. But I think that actually prepared me for Brussels. That gave me the energy to do so well today. During the race, I tried to relax and enjoy the last race of my season. But losing in Zurich put me up again; I had to perform. I wanted to prove that I deserved to be here and that it was not a one-time thing. Because after Zurich, I read some comments that said I was a one-time thing, and that´s really not nice to say. But I was here to prove to myself that I can win. But sometimes those comments can be tough”.
Dina Asher-Smith, second in 10.92, said that she would have loved to win herself but was delighted that she and her training partner (Alfred) had finished first and second. She added an assessment of her year: “Paris was frustrating for me. It sucks, but I was glad to rectify it afterward. So, bar one day, this has been a good year.”
Darryl Neita, who had finished fourth in the 100 and fifth in the 200 at the Paris Olympics, was fourth in 11.14, admitted that she was “happy to get through it healthy in one piece because it was absolutely freezing and I wanted to run in all my layers. I did my best tonight, but I’m thrilled with the season I’ve had. Not so much after the championships, but I wanted to show myself that I could keep going, and next year will be a really long season”.
Sha’Carri Richardson was eighth in 11.23 but was in good spirits afterward, delighting her young fans by posing for many selfies.
