LONDON, (Reuters) – Allyson Felix, dripping with world championship gold but twice a runner-up in the Olympics, looks set to double her options at the 2012 Games after completing a the 400m/200m Diamond League double yesterday.
On Friday the American produced her trademark liquid display to win her third Diamond League 200 metres race of the season and, with the London meeting spread over two days, took the opportunity yesterday to run over the longer distance — where she had also won twice previously this season.
Her languid stride brought her into the home straight in the lead but she looked under pressure from powerful compatriot Debbie Dunn, the fastest in the world this year over the distance, and Russian Tatyana Firova, the new European champion, either side of her.
She managed to hold off both for an impressive 50.79 victory and scoop a 1,500 U.S dollars bonus for the meeting’s best performance.
Her one-lap personal best of 49.70 set three years ago has been bettered only by Dunn (49.64) this season and would probably be good enough to challenge for a medal at the 2012 Games.
Three times world champion over 200 and twice Olympic silver medallist behind Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, Felix has previously shown her 400 metres ability by winning 4x400m relay gold at the Beijing Olympics and two world championships.
American Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984 and Marie-Jose Perec of France in 1996 are the only two women to have completed the Olympic 200/400m double but Felix is now looking increasingly likely to have a shot at becoming the third.
Asked if she was targeting that in London in two years, Felix, still only 24 despite winning her first world title back in 2005, said: “I really hope so. I’m going to work really hard so we’ll see.”
