Before stepping onto the track for the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic, Julien Alfred took a pause—this time not on the blocks, but behind the mic at the pre-meet press conference. Scheduled to compete in the women’s 100m on July 5, the St. Lucian star used the moment to reflect—not just on her preparations, but on a place that has shaped her journey in more ways than one: Hayward Field. When asked about her memories at the iconic stadium—home to the University of Oregon and a centerpiece of the Eugene Diamond League—Julien didn’t hold back. Her answer wasn’t just nostalgic; it was revealing.

 “I won my first NCAA title here,” Alfred said with a proud smile. “But then, later on, a few months after that, my first World Championship, I false-started here as well. So I mean, it’s a love-hate relationship with Hayward Field.” In that brief, candid reflection, Julien wove together the highs and lows that have defined her path. Her NCAA breakthrough wasn’t just a trophy moment—it was the launchpad that catapulted her onto the global stage.

Behind every medal and misstep is a deeper story—and for Julien Alfred, the NCAA circuit was as much about building grit as chasing glory. The road wasn’t smooth. It was filled with challenges—new country, new system, fierce competition—but it was in those demanding college years that she forged the steel needed to stand among the world’s best.

In a recent chat with Athletics Weekly, Olympic champion Julien Alfred opened up about some formative experiences from her collegiate track career. Coming from the small island nation of Saint Lucia, adapting to life and athletics in the U.S. wasn’t instant. She trained with the Texas Longhorns under the guidance of renowned coach Edrick Floreal—a setup that might sound like a dream for any young sprinter. But for Alfred, the reality was far more challenging.

Recalling her early days, she shared, “I remember my first workout when we did 6 x 200m. For the first two, I was flying, and then, the last four, I could have barely make it to the line. That’s just how hard it was, and I had to get used to that programme.” There was no alternative but to adapt—and she did just that. Still, the road didn’t smooth out completely. After settling into the rigorous training, Alfred faced a new wave of challenges that tested her even further.

Sharing more about those early struggles, Julien Alfred admitted, “I had not really lifted weights much, and in US I lift twice a week. Having to adjust to a whole new programme, a new coach, new environment, new team-mates was definitely something that took some time. And I would sometimes just cry. I wanted to go home because it was just so hard.”

Leaving her home in Saint Lucia at a young age, Julien had set her sights on competing in the highly competitive world of American track and field. It wasn’t a simple transition, but she was determined. Training under Edrick Floreal had been a major goal, and she knew the path wouldn’t be smooth. Still, she was willing to endure the hardships for the sake of her dream. In the end, those sacrifices weren’t in vain. Through the difficulties, Julien gained far more than just physical strength—she developed resilience, discipline, and a foundation that would eventually carry her to global success.

Julien Alfred earns many things as a result of her struggle 

Julien Alfred’s rise has been nothing short of relentless—each season building on the last, with no signs of slowing down. Her back-to-back NCAA 100m titles in 2022 and 2023 laid the foundation, followed by a statement victory at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, where she claimed the 60m crown in March 2024. Then came the defining breakthrough: Olympic gold in the 100m. And now, in 2025, she’s showing the world she’s not done leveling up.

Though she opted not to defend her World Indoor 60m title this March, Julien hasn’t missed a beat. In fact, she’s started this season faster than ever before. On April 18 in Gainesville, she scorched the track with a 21.88 in the 200m—her second-fastest time ever, just shy of her 21.86 personal best from July last year. Her 100m performances this year? Equally dominant. A smooth 10.89 in Oslo on June 12 was followed just three days later by a blistering 10.75 (+0.9 m/s) in Stockholm—her second-best mark behind only the 10.72 that won her Olympic gold.

So when Julien arrived at the 50th Prefontaine Classic, all eyes were on her. She was the woman to beat—the favorite. And while she didn’t walk away with the win this time, her 10.77 seconds (-1.5 m/s) for second place in less-than-ideal wind conditions was still a performance worthy of a champion. So, in a field packed with elite sprinters, Julien Alfred continues to prove that she belongs at the top—and she’s only just getting started.

Brianne Wojciakowski joined Florida Atlantic University’s staff in 2019 as a student-athletic services coordinator. While Wojciakowski was new to the program, she is a veteran of the university with four years of dedication as a student-athlete on the volleyball team and two years as a graduate student.

 

Along with her role as a student-athlete service coordinator, Wojciakowski also works as an assistant director of student-athlete development, a SAAC advisor, a tutor coordinator and handles HR duties, as well as managing the student-athletes’ textbooks and coordinating community service events.

 

Wojciakowski obtained her MBA in Sports Management, a world-renowned program, in 2019. While studying for her degree, Wojciakowski worked for the Miami Dolphins on the game day/event staff, as well as having a stint in the FAU ticket office prior to joining the academic team.

 

As an FAU volleyball player, Wojciakowski played in 92 career matches. She tallied 399 kills along with 33 solo blocks and 137 block assists. In unprecedented fashion, Wajciakowski served as team captain each of four seasons with the Owls.

 

July 6, 2025

By John Talty, CBS Sports: Every school dreams of hiring the next Nick Saban who can transform its football program into a national champion.

CBS Sports recently championed the 25 best coaching hires of this century, headlined by Alabama hiring Saban in 2006. Over 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Saban dominated the sport, winning six national championships and nine SEC championships.

Read the full story…

CBSSports.com

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ON THE DAY. DES MOINES EAST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATED 387 STUDENTS THIS YEAR. NOW THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THERE WERE 525 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE 2025 CLASS. THE GRADUATION RATE WAS JUST 73%. EAST HIGH’S TOP SHOT PUTTER DIDN’T SEE AN END TO HIGH SCHOOL WHEN HE FIRST STARTED. YOUNGER ME DIDN’T REALLY THINK I’D MAKE IT PAST THE AGE OF 18 WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON FOR MANY A DORM. FRESHMAN YEAR WENT LIKE THIS I AVERAGED 8.5 OF 4.0 SCALE. I SHOWED UP, I’D SKIPPED, I’D GO DO DUMB STUFF. I’D BE EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT NOT BE AT SCHOOL. THE SOPHOMORE SLUMP HIT HIM HARD. THERE WAS A REALLY LOW POINT IN MY LIFE. SOPHOMORE YEAR, A LOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG. I WAS DOING A LOT OF BAD THINGS, AND I GUESS ONE NIGHT I JUST REALLY JUST SNAPPED BACK TO REALITY. JUST REALIZED I DIDN’T WANT TO. BE ON SOMEBODY’S COUCH OR HOMELESS OR SOMETHING WORSE. YOU KNOW, WHEN HE FLIPPED THE SWITCH, I CAN’T SAY IT WAS EASY. IT WAS DEFINITELY VERY MUCH A STRUGGLE FOR ME. HE DISCOVERED A NEW PASSION, AND THE SOPHOMORE YEAR I WAS I WAS DOING TRACK JUST TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOTBALL AND FIND OUT I’M REALLY GOOD AT IT. FOR SOME REASON, MANNY BECAME THE TOP THROWER AT EAST HIGH. I WAS LIKE, I THREW IT FAR BALL, HEAVY BALL, GO FAR, I DON’T KNOW. I LOOKED MORE INTO IT, YOU KNOW, FIGURED TRACK OUT. I’LL SAY MANNY QUALIFIED FOR STATE THIS PAST SEASON AS A SENIOR IN GRANDVIEW UNIVERSITY, OFFERED HIM A SCHOLARSHIP. WE WORK OUT WITH GRANDVIEW TRACKS. THEY SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM, AND THEIR COACH CAME UP TO ME ASKING, JUST LIKE HOW I FELT ABOUT THEIR TEAM AND CAME TO ASK ME QUESTIONS. I HAD PURE EXCITEMENT IN MY VOICE WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM ABOUT IT, BUT THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM MANNY’S GPA DIDN’T MATCH THE REQUIREMENT. HE SAID IF WE COULD GET A FEW LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND I HAD TO WRITE A LETTER OF INTENT, BASICALLY SAYING LIKE, WHY? I FEEL LIKE I DESERVE TO BE AT GRANDVIEW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE LETTERS OF REC AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR YOU? BE REAL WITH YOU? I LIKE ALMOST SHED A TEAR. WHEN I READ THOSE LETTERS. I WAS LIKE, I WAS JUST LIKE, REALLY HAPPY THAT PEOPLE SEE ME IN A BETTER WAY THAN I SEE MYSELF. MANNY GRADUATED WITH A 2.5 GPA AND A FUTURE POINT FIVE GPA. ME JUST DIDN’T EVEN UNDERSTAND COLLEGIATE SPORTS. I DIDN’T THINK I’D MAKE IT THIS FAR IN MY LIFE, AND I’M SO GLAD

Des Moines East High School graduate turns from failing grades to promising future

Updated: 12:01 PM CDT Jul 6, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Des Moines East High School’s graduation rate for 2025 was 73%. East High graduate Manny Adame, who received a partial athletic scholarship to Grand View for track and field, at one point had a 0.5 GPA.”I would show up, skip, I’d go do dumb stuff, I’d be everywhere else, but not be at school,” Adame said. Until one night in sophomore year. “One night I really just snapped back to reality,” Adame said. “I realized I didn’t want to be on somebody’s couch or homeless or something worse.” KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt tells the story of how an East High graduate’s strength, newfound passion and resilience changed his life.

Des Moines East High School’s graduation rate for 2025 was 73%.

East High graduate Manny Adame, who received a partial athletic scholarship to Grand View for track and field, at one point had a 0.5 GPA.

“I would show up, skip, I’d go do dumb stuff, I’d be everywhere else, but not be at school,” Adame said.

Until one night in sophomore year.

“One night I really just snapped back to reality,” Adame said. “I realized I didn’t want to be on somebody’s couch or homeless or something worse.”

KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt tells the story of how an East High graduate’s strength, newfound passion and resilience changed his life.

As the summer sun begins to set on the offseason, Kansas State University quarterback Avery Johnson is proving that he’s not just a rising star on the football field but also a magnetic presence off of it. The Wichita native, who has already captured the hearts of fans with his electrifying play, is now making headlines as a marketing force to be reckoned with. With the anticipation building for his return to the gridiron in August, Johnson is busy wheeling around Manhattan, solidifying his status as K-State’s future.

While the football world eagerly awaits his next move, fans are buzzing about Johnson’s personal life. Speculation about his relationship status has ignited curiosity, as many wonder whether this talented QB is currently single or if someone has already captured his heart. The intrigue surrounding his dating history adds another layer to his growing persona, making him a topic of conversation not just in the stands but across social media platforms as well.

Johnson’s impact extends beyond the field; he’s quickly becoming a name synonymous with both athletic prowess and marketability. His rise to fame is reminiscent of a quarterback who commands the pocket—poised, strategic, and always ready to make the next big play. As he navigates the pressures of being a college athlete and a budding influencer, fans are left to wonder how this dynamic will shape his upcoming season and his legacy at K-State.

With the potential to reshape the landscape of K-State football, Avery Johnson is not just a player to watch; he’s a phenomenon in the making. As his story unfolds, one thing is clear: whether on the field or off, he’s a name that will be etched in the hearts of fans for years to come. For those eager to follow every twist and turn of his journey, keep your eyes peeled for updates on this captivating young star.