Alfred keen to end 2026 on an Ultimate high

Olympic women’s 100m gold medallist Julien Alfred has the opportunity to close out a historic season on Saturday in Budapest, when she lines up for the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championship. The 25-year-old Saint Lucian runs in the second semifinal of the 100m from 1:10 p. m. Eastern Caribbean Time, with the final scheduled for 2:38 p. m. First announced in 2024, the Ultimate Championship features small, high-quality fields in only 28 events, selected using a combination of global title-holders, Diamond League Champions, world rankings and wildcard selections. One of the most keenly anticipated rivalries will be between Alfred and reigning World champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Respected track and field outlet Citius calls it “the best rubber match of the year”.

Wooden beat Alfred in Silesia last month, but in Zurich, Alfred handed the American her first loss in two years. “Of all the races slated for World Ultimates, this might be the single most anticipated,” Citius said. “Jefferson-Wooden and Alfred have developed a fun and extremely well-matched rivalry, and though Jefferson-Wooden swept through all of 2025 and most of 2026 without losing a 100m race, Alfred has the most recent win by the smallest of margins. ” Also in the field are Diamond League 100m champion Tina Clayton of Jamaica, European champion Amy Hunt and Sha’Carri Richardson, the American who took gold in Budapest three years ago. Alfred will face Clayton in Heat 2, lined up in lanes 5 and 7, respectively. Canadian record-holder Sade McCreath and American sprinter Tamari Davis are also in that heat. Wooden will take on…