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Vol. 114, Issue 11
Monday 7:1:2012 Special Coverage DAY
Oregon Daily Emerald online: dailyemerald.com mobile app: trials.dailyemerald.com twitter: @odesports
OLYMPIC TRIALS
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forecast TODAY High: 73 Low: 50 Chance of showers
turner maxwell PHOTGRAPHER Allyson Felix (left) finishes first in the women’s 200-meter dash final on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Felix ran the third fastest time for an American woman, finishing in 21.69 seconds.
NOT EVEN CLOSE Allyson Felix uses an early lead to dominate the women’s 200-meter race david lieberman sports editor
Coming into the Olympic Trials, fans and media alike expected the final of the women’s 200 meters to be a closely contested and star-studded affair. Saturday evening, the event didn’t disappoint, as Allyson Felix crossed the line in 21.69 seconds to set a meet record while beating out world-class competitors Carmelita Jeter (22.11) and Sanya Richards-Ross (22.22). “I was thrilled with my race,” Felix said. “I just feel like everything came together at the right time.” The win was surely a relief for Felix, who finished in a dead heat with Jeneba Tarmoh for third place in the women’s 100 meters earlier this week. Felix is now assured a berth in London, while Tarmoh, who finished fifth, will have to wait at least a few more hours to learn her fate. Following the race, USA Track
and Field announced that its officials would be meeting with Felix, Tarmoh and their coaches later Saturday to reach a resolution, with an official announcement coming either that night or Sunday morning. Despite widespread controversy surrounding the decision all week, Felix said she was able to hone in on the 200. “It was just all about fighting to make the team,” Felix said. “It definitely has been emotional, just the entire time at the Trials ... I was just thinking about the hours on the track and just those grueling days.” Asked if she would be open to a run-off with Tarmoh on Sunday — the last day of the Trials — Felix buckled. “I think anyone who would have to run tomorrow, it would be tough,” she said. “We’re all a little physically and emotionally drained at this point.” Felix, a sprinting prodigy who bypassed collegiate ranks to turn pro at the tender age of 18, will be running the 200 in her third-straight Olympic games after claiming silver medals in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). She won her heat in the semifinals in 22.30, but shaved an impressive
0.61 off that time in the final to set a personal best. Saturday’s win was the third-fastest time ever run by an American and the fastest 200 by a woman on U.S. soil. To put Felix’s time in perspective, only three women in history have ever covered the distance faster. That trio includes current world and American record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner (21.34 and 21.56 in 1988), disgraced former sprinting champion Marion Jones (21.62 in 1998) and Jamaicanborn Slovenian Merlene Joyce Ottey (21.64 in 1990 and 21.66 in 1991). In college, Griffith-Joyner ran at California State Univeristy-Northridge under Bobby Kersee, who is currently serving as the primary coach to both Felix and Tarmoh. The historical significance of creeping toward Flo-Jo’s all-time mark was not lost on Felix. “I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet,” she said. “For so long, I’ve looked at those times and just kind of been inching along and hoping to be on that list. It’s extremely special.” Sanya Richards-Ross also made history with her third-place finish. She has now qualified to run in
London in both the 200 and 400, a feat that hadn’t been achieved since Valerie Brisco-Hooks pulled off the rare double in 1984. “I really wanted to be part of this team in two events,” Richards-Ross said. “(Felix and Jeter) didn’t make it easy for me, but I’m happy I snuck in.” Richards-Ross said conditioning was a huge factor in her success. She was unable to qualify for the Olympics in the 200 in 2004 and 2008. Jeter — another two-event qualifier who will run the 100 and 200 in London — seemed at a loss for words following her second-place finish. “This is my first Olympics,” Jeter said. “This is probably one of the best feelings in the world.” Though Jeter and Richards-Ross can rejoice in their mulch-faceted success, Felix must wait to see if she’ll be tasked with double duty in London, too. “I think my coach, Bobby Kersee, did an amazing job of not letting it get to us,” Felix said. “He kept us away from (the media) ... just telling us to stay focused.” dlieberman @ dailyemerald . com
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