Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred stormed to victory in the women’s 200m, defeating the reigning World champion at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Wanda Diamond League meeting on Thursday, June 4, at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Alfred, who will turn 25 next week, finished in 21.93 seconds with a 1.3 metre-per-second tailwind. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the American who won both the 100m and 200m titles at the World Championships in Tokyo last year, started well, but ended in 22.17 seconds for second place.

This was Alfred’s first Diamond League race of the season. She is a two-time defending champion in the 100m on the circuit.