‘I expect Alfred to win double gold in Tokyo’

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

St Lucia's Minister of Sport, Kenson Casimir, has predicted that the country's Olympic champion, Julien Alfred, will win gold in the women's 100 and 200 metres at the World Championships, which gets under way in Tokyo on Friday.

Alfred created history when she won Saint Lucia's first-ever Olympic gold medal by winning the 100 metres at last year's Paris Olympics, where she also copped silver in the 200 metres.

The 24-year-old Alfred is headed to the World Championships in good form having recently defended her Diamond League 100m title.

Speaking at Monday's pre-Cabinet meeting, Casimir revealed that he had very high expectations for Alfred.

"Julien will be competing this weekend in the 100, and of course [later on in] the 200m. We saw the work Julien put in towards the 200m over the last six months, and so we are expecting a double.

"No pressure for Alfred this weekend. She looks in fine form. I've heard some discussions as to whether or not she's peaked at 10.70, but we're expecting 10.6 something this weekend, which would be a national record again for St Lucia," Casimir said.