PALO ALTO, California, 23 June 2003 — The only sleep Allyson Felix has had in the past two days is a couple of hours in the back seat of her parents’ car as they drove through the night to the United States Athletics Championships.
“We had our grad night on Thursday and I was up all night,” said Felix, the 17-year-old who won her 200 meters first-round heat here Saturday in 23.19 seconds.
“I was more rested (Saturday) because I got some sleep in the car. I will definitely get some good sleep tonight.”
That could be bad news for her competitors. While other 200m runners spent the past two days getting ready for the race, Felix was attending two days of high school graduation ceremonies.
She drove seven hours here from her Los Angeles home, arriving Saturday morning. Despite the hectic travel schedule, Felix managed the fastest time in the heats ahead of some impressive competition.
LaTasha Jenkins, the 2001 world indoor bronze medallist, had the second-best time (23.35) in the heats while on Friday’s 100m winner Kelli White (23.54) finished second to Torri Edwards (23.49) in the first heat.
Asked which was more exciting, graduating from high school or competing in the US nationals, Felix said, “I can’t compare the two. They are different experiences but both are good.”
Felix needs to finish in the top three final to qualify for the world championships August 23-31 in Paris. “The worlds have been one of my goals all season. But my first goal is to make the US team,” she said.
Felix has the fastest time in the world this year in the 200 meters. In Mexico City in May, she ran a 22.11, breaking the world junior record set in 1980.
Asked if she looks forward to a showdown with triple Olympic champion Marion Jones, Felix said, “I would have liked to have run against Marion. I want to run against the best.”
Jones is taking time off because she is eight months pregnant with her first child.
On the men’s side, former world record holder in the 100m Maurice Greene finished second in his 200m heat in 21.10 and qualified for the semis.
Defending US 200m champion Ramon Clay had the fastest time in the heats with a 20.51.
Tyree Washington won the men’s 400 meters by clocking the fastest time in the world so far this year at 44.33.
Calvin Harrison was second in 44.62 and Jerome Young third in 44.79.
The 26-year-old Washington, who took 18 months off because of injuries and personal problems, won the bronze medal at the worlds in 1997.
Last summer Washington’s sister was sentenced to 25-years-to-life for killing one of her daughters. The combination of injuries and his sister’s long drawn out court case really took a toll on Washington.
“Track is my focus now which was not the case in the past,” said Washington.
Three time world champion Allen Johnson edged out Sydney Olympic silver medallist Terrence Trammell to win the the 110m hurdles.
Johnson, who has captured six US titles, crossed the finish line in 13.37 while running into a 2.4m sec headwind. Trammell finished in 13.38 while Larry Wade was third in 13.43.
World record holder and Olympic gold medallist Stacy Dragila beat Jillian Schwartz to win the pole vault.
Regina Jacobs, who has won 24 US career titles, easily captured the women’s 1,500 meters, crossing the finish line in four minutes, 01.63 seconds. She finished over two seconds ahead of runner-up Suzy Favor Hamilton. The ageless Gail Devers, 36, already in the American team in the 100 meters, led qualifying in the women’s 100 meters hurdles after clocking 13.00 seconds into a strong headwind.
