BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, February 02 — The world’s fastest woman is stretching her legs this indoor season by running past her comfort zone.
Julien Alfred opened her ’25 campaign in the 300 at the New Balance Indoor GP, clocking 36.16, a St. Lucia Record, to defeat training partner Dina Asher-Smith, who also had a PR at 36.87.
“I wanted to go faster, at least,” said Alfred, who competed in her first 300 since December ’22 and is now the No. 15 performer in history. “However, I’m satisfied. I’m healthy.”
Now she’ll go back to the 60, right? Nope.
“I love the 60,” Alfred said. “It’s one of my favorite events. I won’t be running it this year at all, unfortunately, just focusing on getting stronger.”
Alfred was undefeated in the 60 in ’23 and ’24. Last year she won the 60 world title in Glasgow en route to Olympic 100 gold and 200 silver. She won’t defend her world indoor title, but hopes to reach her first outdoor world podium — or podiums — after placing 4th (200) and 5th (100) in Budapest.
Alfred trailed Asher-Smith at 100, but powered into the lead on the final turn. Training with the Brit is always competitive, Alfred said. “Today felt like practice to me, seeing Dina on the outside and chasing her.”
Now Alfred faces an even steeper challenge. Coach Edrick Floréal wants her to race a 400, even though, she said, “it hurts a lot.”
Where? “I don’t want to say,” Alfred said with a bashful smile, then relented. “At Clemson [February 14].”
She hasn’t run individual 400s since ’18, but says of the longer races. “If it’s going to help my 200, then yeah, sure, I will do it.”
Gabby Thomas, who won the five previous 300 races in Boston, was part of the sell-out crowd of about 4000 at the TRACK at New Balance
Jacious Sears took the 60 in 7.11, coming back from the hamstring pull that ended her ’24 season prematurely.
Masai Russell, Olympic champ at 100H, used her patented lean to win the 60H in a season-best 7.80. Just like in Paris, she won by 0.01, this time over a hard-charging Grace Stark. Devynne Charlton, the indoor world champion and WR holder, raced to a season-best 7.85.
“Do I practice my lean? No, it’s just like a part of my genes or something,” Russell said. “When it’s a close race, the only thing I know is to just do it.”
After a post-Olympic slump, Russell was proud to start the season with a new milestone.
“It’s funny to say that this is my first pro win,” she said. “I’m an Olympic champion, but I never won any race as a professional last year.”
Parker Valby made her much-anticipated pro debut in the 3000, finishing 3rd with a PR of 8:34.95. Melissa Courtney-Bryant set a British Record with a world-leading 8:28.69. She sliced more than 11 seconds off her PR as her formidable kick overtook Elise Cranny on the final turn. The American, fresh off her mile victory at the BU Terrier Classic two days earlier, posted her own PR of 8:29.87. Sarah Healy ran an Irish Record (8:35.19) in 4th.
Courtney-Bryant said she’s been training so hard she was “floating” in the race. “I feel like it’s a long time coming,” she said of her fast time. “I just love this distance, but I feel like I haven’t showed my potential over the years, just injuries and other things… I knew what I was capable of.”
Valby, whose incredible 2023–24 season included five NCAA titles for Florida and the Olympic 10K final, knew she would be gapped on her home track. “Originally, they were going for 8:20 and I know I’m not in that shape whatsoever,” Valby said. “We just touched the track a few weeks ago. But I knew that I was able to at least hang with the second pack that was going 8:35–8:40 pace.”
As a “pure distance runner at heart,” Valby said the speed work will help in her next race, which has yet to be determined. She hopes it will be a 5K.
“Honestly, I had kind of a rough time adjusting from the Olympics to training and moving to a different city,” said Valby, who was slightly alarmed by her first training session on snow over the weekend. “The pro world, it’s like you’re not the best anymore and you have a lot to learn. I’m finding it hard to make specific goals. My main goal is to continue to be myself and keep on improving.”
Heather MacLean won the mile with a meet and personal record 4:23.32 as ’24 HS Girls Athlete Of The Year Sadie Engelhardt made the big news further back in the field. The Ventura High (California) senior, who will not compete for her prep team this season, raced home in 5th in 4:29.34, the No. 2 all-time prep indoor mark. Engelhardt passed 1500 en route in 4:11.53 to claim the High School Record, 0.19 faster than Mary Cain’s standard set in ’13.
Raevyn Rogers led wire-to-wire in the 500 (68.98). Double Olympic medalist Jasmine Moore won the triple jump at 45-7 (13.89).
NEW BALANCE WOMEN’S RESULTS
60: 1. Jacious Sears (US) 7.11; 2. Destiny Smith-Barnett (Lbr) 7.14 NR; 3. Celera Barnes (US) 7.14; 4. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 7.15; 5. Mikiah Brisco (US) 7.20.
300: 1. Julien Alfred (StL) 36.16 PR; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 36.87; 3. Emma Montoya (Fra) 38.37.
500: 1. Raevyn Rogers (US) 1:08.98 PR (8, 8 A);
2. Helena Ponette (Bel) 1:09.69 PR; 3. Sammy Watson (US) 1:10.55; 4. Jasmine Jones (US) 1:10.65 PR; 5. Lisanne de Witte (Neth) 1:10.81.
Mile: 1. Heather MacLean (US) 4:23.32 (9, x A) (4:07.24);
2. Susan Ejore-Sanders (Ken) 4:23.55 (4:07.42); 3. Sinclaire Johnson (US) 4:23.58 (11, x A) (4:07.64); 4. Dorcus Ewoi (Ken) 4:26.03 PR (4:08.29); 5. Gabija Galvydytė (Lit) 4:28.42 NR (4:10.12); 6. Nozomi Tanaka (Jpn) 4:28.54 PR (4:09.80);
7. Sadie Engelhardt (Ventura, Ca) 4:29.34 (2, 2 HS) (in/out: x, 4 HS) (4:11.53 HSR [old HSR 4:11.72 Mary Cain [Bronxville, NY] ’13).
8. Maia Ramsden (NZ) 4:31.16 (4:12.30); 9. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 4:32.68 (4:12.83).
3000: 1. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 8:28.69 PR
2. Elise Cranny (US) 8:29.87 (6, 7 A);
3. Parker Valby (US) 8:34.95 PR; 4. Sarah Healy (Ire) 8:35.19 NR; 5. Emily Mackay (US) 8:35.35 PR; 6. Georgia Bell (GB) 8:36.96 PR; 7. Hannah Nuttall (GB) 8:40.01 PR; 8. Lea Meyer (Ger) 8:40.96 PR; 9. Melknat Wudu (Eth) 8:42.48; 10. Dani Jones (US) 8:42.83 PR; 11. Sintayehu Vissa (Ita) 8:54.94 PR; 12. Emma Coburn (US) 8:56.55.
60H: 1. Masai Russell (US) 7.80; 2. Grace Stark (US) 7.81; 3. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 7.85; 4. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 7.92; 5. Christina Clemons (US) 8.02.
TJ: 1. Jasmine Moore (US) 45-7 (13.89); 2. Anne-Suzanna Fosther-Katta (Cam) 45-5 (13.84); 3. Jessie Maduka (Ger) 44-10¼ (13.67); 4. Dovilė Kilty (Lit) 44-1½ (13.45); 5. Imani Oliver (US) 43-4½ (13.22).