Allyson Felix Aspires for Her 3rd Title in Qatar Super Grand-Prix

The Olympic champion Allyson Felix seems to be one of the highly qualified competitors in the Qatar athletics super grand-prix 2007. The Olympic star, who won a silver medal in the Athens Olympic Games 2004, is nominated to seize the first rank in the 100m & 400m events during Qatar athletics super grand-prix. In case she wins any of these two events, she will be the winner for the third time in Doha grand prix.

Allyson Felix participated for the first time in the Qatari versions of athletics grand prix during 2005. She was ranked first after wining the 200m event (22:78). Her comment was: “I participate in Qatar for the first time after I heard a lot about this event. I think the competition was tough due to the presence of featured athletics champions.” In the 2006 version, she also won the same event with the same time but withdrew form the 100m event. The current grand prix will not involve the 200m event; therefore, she will participate in the 100m & 400m events.

The Olympic champion received a warm welcome in Doha, especially by the students of the American School which she visited last year. It is worth notice that she proved her high quality performance and success determination since the start and gained a silver medal in the Olympic Games-Athens 2004 as well as many other international competitions.
In many ways 2003 was very much a 'break-out' year for Allyson. She finally achieved what everyone had been suggesting she might do - she broke Marion Jones' high-school record in the 200m. At the Mt. SAC relays, Allyson ran 22.51 to set a new high-school record. This was followed by a performance just a few weeks later that made the whole world take note. Running at altitude in Mexico, Allyson knew she had a good chance of setting a personal best. And she delivered - her winning time of 22.11 was declared a world junior record. It was only a week or so later that Allyson discovered her record wasn't going to be ratified because the meet didn't conduct drug testing (a criteria for accepting world records). Still, this wasn't much of a set-back, as she knew she was capable of setting the record again.
Finishing 3rd at the US Championships in 2003 qualified Allyson for a spot on the World Championships team. Before the World Champs though, Allyson competed at the Pan-American Games and won a bronze medal in the 200m. However, by the time she had reached the World Championships, she'd already competed in over 30 races that year, so it almost came as no surprise when she failed to reach the finals. Not that it bothered Allyson too much - the Olympics were a bigger goal and were just 12 months away.
2004 saw a change of coach (to Pat Connolly) and a modified racing program, geared towards the Olympic Games. Of course, she had to get through the US Champs first, but this never really presented a problem. She won it in convincing style with a time of 22.28 - her fastest since her 22.11 the year before. Suddenly, she was emerging as a medal favorite for the Olympic Games.
Winning her heat, quarter-final and semi-final in Athens, Allyson was always very much in the hunt for medals at the Olympics. Lining up for the final however, there was a very real threat in the lane outside of her in the form of Veronica Campbell (double World Junior Champion, with an unbeaten streak over 200m dating back to 2000). Unfazed by Campbell, Allyson ensured she ran her own race to the best of her capabilities. Although she finished 2nd to Campbell in the final, Allyson's silver-medal-winning 22.18 was undoubtedly the best run of her career and is now the official World Junior record.
Allyson Felix: Highlights
Height: 168cm
Weight: 57
Born: 1985 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Coach: Bob Kersee
Agent: Renaldo Nehemiah
Sponsor: Adidas

2006: 1st in 200m, 3rd in 100m at World Athletics Final (22.11, 11.07)...5th at Stockholm (22.71)...6th at London (11.33)...1st at Madrid (22.73)...1st at Doha (22.78)...1st at Norwich Union (22.19)...1st at Kansas Relays (11.04PR)…ranked 1st in the world (1st U.S.) at 200m and 6 in the world (4th U.S.) in 100m by T & FN…bests of 22.11, 11.04.

2005: 200m World Outdoor Champion (22.16)...1st in 200m at USA Outdoor Champs (22.13)...1st in 200m at Adidas Track Classic (22.14)...3rd in 100m at Rome (11.14)...3rd in 100m at Stockholm (11.29)...7th in 100m at Zurich (11.18)...1st in 100m at Yokohama (11.05PR)...1st in 200m at Doha (22.78)...1st in 200m at Monterrey (22.31)...1st in 200m at World Athletics Final (22.27)...1st at Norwich Union (51.12PR)...ranked 1 in the world (1st U.S.) in 200m and 9 in the world (4 U.S.) in 100m by T & FN...best of 11.05 in 100m and 22.13 in 200m.

2004: Olympic 200m silver medalist (22.18 WJ)...Olympic Trials 200m champion (22.28)...USA Junior 200m champion (22.73)...2nd in 100m at Modesto (11.19)...2nd in 100m at Mt. Sac (11.14w)...3rd in 200m at Payton Jordan US Open (22.71)...3rd at Adidas Oregon Track Classic (23.12)...2nd in 400m in Mexico City (51.83)...1st Linz 100m in PR 11.16...7th in 60m at USA Indoors (7.33)...2nd in 400m at adidas Boston Indoor Games (52.28)...5th in 60m at Verizon Millrose Games (7.36)...ranked 2nd in the world (1st U.S.) by T & FN...best of 22.18.