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When Allyson Felix last raced over 200m indoors, she was a 17-year-old up-and-coming high school phenomenon.
Eighteen years, 11 world titles and six Olympic gold medals later, the 35-year-old returned to the banked oval on Sunday (21) for the fourth American Track League fixture in Fayetteville – a World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting – and, as she so often has done during her glittering career, emerged the winner.
Drawn in lane five, Felix didn’t get out of the blocks particularly well, but she hit top speed on the back straight and made up the stagger on 15-year-old Shawnti Jackson, drawn in lane six. Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn moved on to Felix’s shoulder on the final bend, but Felix edged ahead again on the final stretch and pulled away to win in 22.59.
Felix’s winning time smashed her previous PB (23.14) and moves her to 18th on the US indoor all-time list. It’s also the fastest ever indoor 200m by a masters (35+) athlete; no one else that age has ever bettered 23 seconds.
“It feels good to be running again, it’s been a long time,” said Felix, who will be targeting the 200m at the US Olympic Trials later this year. “The 200m is one of my favourite races, so I just wanted to have some fun. We’re still working hard; the big goal is much later this year.”
SOURCE: World Atheltics
