4. Miller vs Felix
What a race it would have been had Caster Semenya carried out her initial wish to participate in both the 800m and 400m in Rio. The South African pulled out following her coach’s decision not to let her do the double.
So let’s just focus on young Shaunae Miller and the veteran Allyson Felix who are the top challengers for the women’s 400m Olympic title.
For Felix, it will be her fourth Olympic Games appearance, and she has had an illustrious career that has seen her win medals in the previous three Games dating back to the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Be it the 200m or the 400m, Felix has won medals, which has seen her name enter into Olympic folklore. However, not qualifying for the 200m for this Olympics will see her concentrate on the 400m.
For all her tremendous achievements at the Olympics, Felix has never won a GOLD medal in the 400m at the Olympics, which underlines the seriousness she will attach to this race in Rio.
Although Miller might not have that Olympics pedigree yet, she is no pushover either. Making her 2nd appearance, Miller was given the honour to be Bahamas’ flag bearer in Rio. Such is how her stock has risen in the country and the belief they have in her abilities.
When Miller clashed with Felix last year in Beijing, it was a race that witnessed many records. Felix ran a Personal Best (PB) of 49.26s to win GOLD, the fastest time in the world since July 2012 when Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka ran 49.16s. Miller finished 2nd in that race, and it was with a then PB of 49.67s. From last year till now, Miller has come a long way and is now a top challenger for GOLD.
This year Miller has led the pace, running a World Leading time of 49.69s at the Nassau Invitational, with Felix narrowly taking the lead from her after racing to a time of 49.68s at the US national trials.
It spurred Miller who ran a terrific race to win the women’s 400m and regain the WL, clocking 49.55s at the London Diamond League, which incidentally, is a new PB for the Bahamian.
When both clash in Rio, it will be a race of experience against the longer stride of a younger athlete. Miller is tall and reputed for her strong finish, but Felix has an enviable endurance and can last the long haul.
One is 31, and the other 22 years old. Either of them will most definitely be crowned the 400m Champion in Rio, not minding the nine year age difference between them.
