From CARIFTA to Monaco: Two Caribbean Track Stars Battle for Global Glory

Two Caribbean sprint stars. Two different generations of CARIFTA. One unforgettable 1–2 finish on the global stage.

Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred and the British Virgin Islands' Adaejah Hodge delivered a powerful reminder of the importance of Caribbean athletics development when they finished first and second in the women's 200 metres at the Monaco Diamond League.

Alfred stormed to victory in 21.51 seconds, with Hodge finishing second, just 0.25 seconds behind the Saint Lucian star.

But long before Monaco, the Diamond League and the bright lights of global athletics, both athletes experienced the CARIFTA Games.

Alfred competed at CARIFTA during the earlier stages of her development, including appearances in 2016 and 2018. Hodge came later and dominated the 2022 CARIFTA Games, winning the U17 100m, 200m and long jump titles.

Different years. Different stages of development. But the same Caribbean pathway.

Today, they are no longer simply promising young athletes. They are two of the fastest women in the world, battling each other for victory at one of track and field's biggest international meetings.

Their Monaco 1–2 finish is more than a result. It is a powerful example for the next generation of young athletes competing at CARIFTA today.

The young athlete running at CARIFTA this year could be standing on a Diamond League starting line tomorrow.

For the Caribbean, the journey continues—from school sports, to CARIFTA, to scholarships and elite development programmes, and ultimately to the biggest stages in world athletics.

Julien Alfred and Adaejah Hodge are now writing the latest chapter of that journey—two Caribbean track stars, from two small islands, battling for global glory.