Armed with an impressive medals kitty comprising of eight World titles and four Olympic GOLD and two Silver medals, Allyson Felix remains one of Track and Field’s most decorated athletes. However, that did not stop the 29-year old from seeking fresh challenges in Beijing and looking for new territories to conquer.
And conquer she did, winning a much sought after GOLD in the women’s 400m with a scorching World Lead (WL) and Personal Best (PB) of 49.26s, making it the fastest time in the world since July 2012 when Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka ran a WL of 49.16s. Felix’s feat in Beijing makes her the first woman in history to claim world titles in both the women’s 200m/400m.
Her fantastic lead inspired three other finalists to achieve their lifetime bests as well, as Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas finished 2nd with a PB of 49.67s. It was an outstanding achievement for the 21-year old former world Youth and Junior champion who was one of five young athletes to watch out for in Beijing.
She came to the World Championships as one of the Top 5 athletes in the world this year, both in the 200m and 400m, but eventually settled for the 400m in Beijing. It was a decision that obviously paid off despite not winning GOLD, as the Bahamian had a new PB and the Silver medal to show for her efforts. She will definitely continue her quest for a world title at senior level.
The Jamaicans were ably represented in the final, with Commonwealth champion Stephenie Ann McPherson, Shericka Jackson, Christine Day and Novlene Williams-Mills all in action. However it was Jackson and Day who clocked new times of 49.99s and 50.14s in 3rd and 4th positions respectively, as McPherson and Williams-Mills finished in 5th and 6th. Defending champion, Christine Ohuruogu returned a time of 50.63s to place 8th in the race.
Felix has already won three world titles in the 200m (2005, 2007 and 2009). She ended up taking Bronze in 2011 as she made her first attempt at combining the 200m/400m in Daegu. She won Silver in the 400m behind Botswana’s Amantle Montsho, clocking a then Personal Best (PB) of 49.59s. She came to Beijing with the same plan, but eventually opted out of her specialist event, focusing on the 400m alone.
Felix had already made a statement with her shocking victory in the 400m at the USA Trials in June ahead of then world leader, Francena McCorory and Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross. McCorory placed 4th behind Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis, thus missing out on a qualification slot for Beijing. Richards-Ross didn’t even advance to the final at the national championships, much to the dismay of her fans.
Allyson Felix no doubt capitalized on the absence of the pair in the 400m, as she was gifted with a golden opportunity that was too good to pass on. It remains to be seen if she will seek to replicate the same feat at the Rio Olympics next year, as the super-talented athlete goes in search of more conquests.
