Top 10 world’s fastest women: Sha’Carri Richardson surpasses Julien Alfred in elite 2024 list
Meet the world’s fastest women for the 2024 season, headed by Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred.
This year produced some of the most memorable 100m performances in history as Julien Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson led the exclusive list of the world’s fastest women for the 2024 season.
Both women raced to remarkable times in 2024, earning the accolade as the women to beat this year anytime they competed on the track.
While Richardson reaffirmed her status as the woman with the fastest time in the world for the second consecutive year, Saint Lucia’s Olympic heroine Alfred surged her way to the top as the golden girl with the sole title of the world’s fastest woman after her Olympic victory.
Following the stunning performances of the world’s best female 100m sprinters this season, here’s the top 10 list of the fastest women in 2024.
10 – Dina Asher-Smith (10.88s)
British record holder Dina Asher-Smith takes this position after recording 10.88s to win the Lausanne Diamond League after a disappointing Paris Olympic appearance.
9 – Rosemary Chukwuma (10.88s)
Nigerian speedster and Texas Tech University standout sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma recorded an impressive personal best of 10.88s to win her 100m heat at the NCAA West Preliminaries.
This time will not just place her in the top 10 of the world’s fastest women in 2024 but elevates her as the second-fastest Nigerian female sprinter in history behind the legendary Blessing Okagbare.
8 – Aleia Hobbs (10.88s)
American 60m record holder Aleia Hobbs ran a lightning-fast identical time of 10.88s at the LSU Invitational back in April. Although she didn’t make the US Olympic team to Paris, her time places her as the fourth-fastest American in the world this year.
7 – Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith (10.87s)
As Africa’s fastest woman in history and most consistent female sprinter in the past decade, Ta Lou-Smith justifiably makes the list with her brilliant 10.87s recorded to win her heat race at the Paris Olympic Games.
The time establishes her as the fastest African female 100m sprinter in 2024.
6 – Tia Clayton (10.86s)
Sprint sensation Tia Clayton powered her way into the conversation of the fastest sprinters this year after a lightning run of 10.86s to win her semifinal race at the Jamaican Olympic trials.
Clayton will go on to not just make the Olympic team but qualify for the 100m final in Paris, making her the only Jamaican sprinter to do so after the withdrawal of the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and multiple world 200m champion Shericka Jackson.
The 20-year-old will also win her first Diamond League race in Silesia post-Olympics and finish sixth in Zurich to cap off a remarkable first professional season.
5 – Shericka Jackson (10.84s)
Despite having an injury-riddled 2024 season, Shericka Jackson still managed to secure her name in the world’s Toplist following her impressive time of 10.84s to win the Jamaican Olympic trials.
The world 200m champion will be aiming to make a comeback next year to reclaim her position as the fastest woman in the world and one of the most respected female sprinters in history.
4 – Melissa Jefferson (10.80s)
Former American champion Melissa Jefferson restored her position as a top sprinter and one ready to be in the elite league in the coming years after a superb run of 10.80s to finish second at the US Olympic trials.
She will then sprint to the bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games, thus marking her comeback season with a statement and in style.
3 – Jacious Sears (10.77s)
An unfortunate injury after a groundbreaking personal best run of 10.77s will hinder her season and track fans from witnessing the best of her talent this year.
Nevertheless, the University of Tennessee standout sprinter will take comfort in the fact that she is the woman with the third-fastest time in the world this year.
2 – Julien Alfred (10.72s)
Saint Lucia’s golden girl Julien Alfred didn’t just finish the year in the Top 2 of the world’s fastest sprinters but is the most distinguished female sprinter in the 2024 season.
The 23-year-old became Saint Lucia’s first Olympic champion in history after defeating pre-championship favourite Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m final by racing to the finish line in a new personal best of 10.72s.
Not resting on her laurels, she claimed the silver medal in the 200m event behind Gabby Thomas, thus leaving Paris with two medals in her Olympic debut.
Aside from this, Alfred sprinted to the 60m title at the world indoor championships in Glasgow to become her country’s first-ever world champion in any sport and concluded her exceptional 2024 year by winning the Diamond League 100m title in Brussels.
1 – Sha’Carri Richardson (10.71s)
For the second consecutive year, American track star Sha’Carri Richardson concluded the season with the fastest time in the world, having recorded a remarkable time of 10.71s to win the US Olympic trials in Eugene.
Despite losing to Alfred in the Olympic final, Richardson remains on top of the rankings with her time and the one to beat in any sprint race ahead of next season.