Posted: June 20, 2006

Athletics: Felix To Chase Third National Title This Weekend

By Bob Ramsak
© 2006 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved

[NOTE to TPR Wire Subscribers: Distributed with permission from the IAAF News Service. Paul Gains is the author of the story. --Ed.]

Defending the US 200m title she won in 2005 and 2004 is foremost on sprint sensation Allyson Felix’s mind at this coming weekend’s USATF Championships in Indianapolis. And, if her early season performances are anything to go by she is ready.

At the Kansas Relays Felix, now 20, shocked many with a personal best 100m time of 11.04 seconds, a time that would win many world class races. That she achieved this so early in the season bodes well.

"I wasn’t really expecting it too much. We really hadn’t done too much speed, so the time was a little bit of a surprise," says Felix. "We had been focusing on the technical part of the 100m so I was really pleased. We wanted to run the 100m more this year just because the next three years are going to be so intense. Since this is a kind of "off year" we just wanted to spend time getting me to learn the 100m. That was one of the priorities this year."

"We always talked about going under 11 seconds this season. We talked about that but it was more about being more comfortable in the race and then learning techniques, The time came and we just wanted to take advantage of this time for a learning year."

The "we" she is talking about includes her coach of two years, Bobby Kersee, and her agent Renaldo Nehemiah, who himself knows a thing or two about preparing track and field athletes for elite competition.

Until 2003 Felix had been coached by Pat Connolly but when the long time coach went back east and the sprinter didn’t want to leave southern California, where she is studying elementary education at the University of Southern California, she approached Kersee for help.

"His training is a lot different," she reveals. "We run a lot of long intervals, everyone kind of trains from a 400m base. And we don't really work on speed until very late in the year."

"I think Bobby has had the same kind of philosophy the last two years; he just doesn’t want to push me too much. He doesn’t want to put too much pressure on me even though I have been begging him to run more. I think he just wants me to gradually step up."

It must be complicated for any coach to keep the reigns on an athlete like Felix. She represented the US at the 2004 Olympic Games at the age of 18 winning the 200m silver medal. A year ago she was crowned World Champion in Helsinki in her specialty. These precocious achievements would likely dampen the enthusiasm for training in a lot of athletes but Felix sounds like the youngster she is.

This weekend’s US national championships will be her first competition in several weeks. A slight hamstring strain, suffered during a 200m race in Doha curtailed her training for a couple of weeks, then a severe case of strep throat kept her from three early season races in Hengelo, Ostrava and Oslo, though she is confident her fitness is back to where it was. The winners will be offered a place on the US team that will compete in the IAAF World Cup of Athletics in Athens, September 16 and 17.

"Definitely I am going in to win the race, I feel I am not quite 100% yet but I want to come out healthy and hopefully defend my 200m title," she admits. "We have talked about the World Cup but haven’t decided if I would go if I get that spot."

Though she is a full time student at USC she is able to balance time for both studies and for the training required to maintain fitness throughout the year.

"I mean it’s definitely a busy time so I just try to balance my time, I try to schedule my classes all together so I can come and train in the afternoons," she explains. "That’s how I kind of get through it. I can’t wait to graduate. I just finished my junior year but I am about a semester behind."

With her track earnings Felix bought a house in Los Angeles not far from where her parents live. It is her mother who safeguards her medals and trophies. Her brother Wes, who has run 200m in 20.40 seconds, lives with her. The pair gets along well and spends time viewing videotapes of their respective races. Felix says they "point out each other’s flaws". Both are devout Christians which is not surprising since their father, Paul, is an ordained minister.

"Definitely," she says of her faith, "that is the most important thing. I feel like my running is a gift, and I just want to use it to glorify God."

Felix recalls the celebratory dinner after she was crowned World Champion in Helsinki last year. In addition to her parents and brother Renaldo Nehemiah was there and so too were Olympic and World Champion 100m sprinter, Justin Gatlin and his parents. Felix says her friendship with Gatlin and also with training partner Joanna Hayes has been important in her development.

"I remember Justin and I made our first team together, so we were lost in it together," she says laughing. "We kind of were brought into it at the same time. Right now (2004 Olympic hurdles champion) Joanna Hayes and I train together. She has a lot of advice and I can always come to her. So she has definitely been a positive influence on my career as well."

When she is not training, travelling, studying or attending church services Felix tries to relax. Competitive by nature she often goes bowling with friends and always keeps track of her score.

"I am not as good a bowler but I still try," she says laughing.

Felix will face a very competitive field this weekend including Sanya Richards who posted a 22.25 seconds clocking in winning in Gateshead, England, Shalonda Solomon, and Torri Edwards. Marion Jones is also entered in the race.

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