Introducing the world’s fastest women of the 2024 season, led by Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred.
This year saw some of the most memorable 100m performances in history, with Richardson and Alfred claiming the top spots on the elite list of the fastest women in the world for 2024.
Both athletes delivered incredible times, establishing themselves as the ones to watch and the women to beat in every race this season.
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While Sha’Carri Richardson maintained her position as the fastest woman in the world for the second year in a row, Saint Lucia’s Olympic hero, Julien Alfred, surged to the top, claiming the title of the world’s fastest woman with her Olympic victory.
After a season filled with exceptional performances from the best female 100m sprinters, here is the top 10 list of the fastest women in 2024:
10 – Dina Asher-Smith (10.88s)
British record holder Dina Asher-Smith takes the 10th spot, having clocked 10.88 seconds to win the Lausanne Diamond League, despite a disappointing showing at the Paris Olympics.
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9 – Rosemary Chukwuma (10.88s)
Nigerian sprinter and Texas Tech University standout Rosemary Chukwuma achieved an impressive personal best of 10.88 seconds to win her 100m heat at the NCAA West Preliminaries.
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This time not only secures her a spot in the top 10 of the world’s fastest women in 2024 but also positions her as the second-fastest Nigerian female sprinter in history, trailing only the legendary Blessing Okagbare.
8 – Aleia Hobbs (10.88s)
American 60m record holder Aleia Hobbs recorded a swift time of 10.88 seconds at the LSU Invitational in April. Although she did not qualify for the US Olympic team for Paris, her performance ranks her as the fourth-fastest American in the world this year.
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7 – Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith (10.87s)
As Africa’s fastest woman ever and one of the most consistent female sprinters of the past decade, Ta Lou-Smith earns her spot on the list with an impressive time of 10.87 seconds, which she recorded to win her heat at the Paris Olympic Games.
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Her time makes her the fastest African female 100m sprinter of 2024.
6 – Tia Clayton (10.86s)
Sprint sensation Tia Clayton entered the conversation as one of the fastest sprinters this year with an impressive run of 10.86 seconds, winning her semifinal race at the Jamaican Olympic trials.
Clayton not only secured a spot on the Olympic team but also qualified for the 100m final in Paris, becoming the only Jamaican sprinter to achieve this after the withdrawals of the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and multiple world 200m champion Shericka Jackson.
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The 20-year-old also claimed her first Diamond League race in Silesia after the Olympics and finished sixth in Zurich, concluding an outstanding first professional season.
5 – Shericka Jackson (10.84s)
Despite battling injuries throughout the 2024 season, Shericka Jackson still made her mark on the world stage with an impressive time of 10.84 seconds to win the Jamaican Olympic trials.
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The world 200m champion is aiming for a comeback next year to reclaim her status as the fastest woman in the world and one of the most esteemed female sprinters in history.
4 – Melissa Jefferson (10.80s)
Former American champion Melissa Jefferson reestablished herself as a top sprinter, proving she is ready to join the elite ranks in the coming years with an outstanding run of 10.80 seconds, finishing second at the US Olympic trials.
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She then sprinted to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games, making a powerful and stylish statement for her comeback season.
3 – Jacious Sears (10.77s)
An unfortunate injury following a remarkable personal best of 10.77 seconds hindered her season, preventing track fans from witnessing her full potential this year.
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Despite this, the University of Tennessee standout sprinter can take comfort in being the woman with the third-fastest time in the world this year.
2 – Julien Alfred (10.72s)
Saint Lucia’s star athlete, Julien Alfred, not only finished the year ranked among the top two fastest sprinters globally but also emerged as the most decorated female sprinter of the 2024 season.
The 23-year-old made history as Saint Lucia’s first Olympic champion by defeating pre-championship favorite Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m final, sprinting to the finish line with a new personal best of 10.72 seconds.
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Not resting on her laurels, she secured the silver medal in the 200m event behind Gabby Thomas, finishing her Olympic debut in Paris with two medals.
In addition to this, Alfred sprinted to victory in the 60m event at the world indoor championships in Glasgow, making her the first-ever world champion from her country in any sport. She capped off her outstanding 2024 season by winning the Diamond League 100m title in Brussels.
1 – Sha’Carri Richardson (10.71s)
For the second year in a row, American track star Sha’Carri Richardson concluded the season with the fastest time in the world, clocking an impressive 10.71 seconds to win the US Olympic trials in Eugene.
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Even though she lost to Alfred in the Olympic final, Richardson maintains her leading position with her time and remains the sprinter to beat in any race as the next season approaches.
