Texas Sprinter Dips Under 7 Seconds To Tie For Eighth-Fastest Of All-Time

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Texas senior Julien Alfred's record-breaking winter season took another step Saturday at the Big 12 Conference Indoor Championships in Lubbock, Texas.

Alfred became the first collegiate sprinter to go under 7 seconds with a time of 6.97 in the conference final. 

That made her the second-fastest woman in the world this year behind American pro Aleia Hobbs, who elevated to the No. 2 all-time competitor by winning the U.S. indoor title Feb. 18 in 6.94 seconds in Albuquerque, N.M. 

Alfred, who is from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, previously broke the collegiate record Feb. 3 with 7.00 at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque.

Alfred won the NCAA outdoor championship in the 100-meter dash in June, when she ran 11.02 seconds in the final after a prelim of 10.90. 

It's the first time since 1995 that two female sprinters have run 6.97 or better in the same season. 

All-time list - 

1. Irina Privalova, Russia, 6.92, 1993/1995

2. Aleia Hobbs, USA, 6.94, 2023

3. Gail Devers, USA, 6.95, 1993

(tie). Marion Jones, USA, 6.95, 1998

5. Merlene Ottey, Jamaica, 6.96, 1992

(tie). Ekaterini Thanou, Greece, 6.96, 1999

(tie) Mujinga Kambundji, Switzerland, 6.96, 2022

8. Laverne Jones-Ferrette, U.S. Virgin Islands, 6.97, 2010

(tie). Murielle Ahoure, Ivory Coast, 6.97, 2018

(tie). Julien Alfred, St. Lucia (Texas), 6.97, 2023