US sprint prodigy has Paris and Athens in her sights
WASHINGTON, May 27 (AFP) - US sprint prodigy AllysonFelix, the 17-year-old who is erasing Marion Jones fromthe age-group record books, said Tuesday she was aimingto gain selection for the World Championships in Parisin August.
In the longer term the Californian said she wasdetermined to qualify for the US team for next year’sAthens Olympics.
Felix announced her arrival on the world stage whenshe broke Jones’ US junior 200 metres record with a timeof 22.51sec in April.
She followed that by smashing the world junior recordwith 22.11sec in the high altitude of Mexico City on May3.
At the beginning of the year, my goal was always tobreak Marion Jones' (US junior) record,'' Felix said ina videoconference organised by US Track and Field. After that, I readjusted my goals. Now I’m focusedon making the World Championships team.
I've definitely thought about it. I go into everyrace with the goal to win. My goal is to make the team.I'm excited, I know if I make the team, the experiencewill benefit me.'' The Californian said she was concentrating on the 200mfor the moment, saying she had a lot to learn to perfectthe shorter sprint. The 200 is obviously my stronger race. Right now,the main thing is technique.
For the 100, I have a lot to learn and my startneeds to improve. In the 200, I have more time. Once I get my start perfected, itwill benefit me more.'' Felix said she regretted she would not be running thisseason against triple Olympic champion Jones, who istaking a year off to have a baby with her boyfriend,world 100m recordholder Tim Montgomery. I definitely wish she was around. I look forward toracing her and I know there will be plenty of times inthe future.’’
The teenager said her plans to go to college would nothinder her ambition to run in next year’s AthensOlympics.
Right now, I'm planning on going to USC (Universityof Southern California) but I'm saying nothing isimpossible and things can still happen. Either way, I will definitely be focusing on theOlympics. If I go to USC, they will work with me. Theyknow that’s my goal.’’
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AFP 