Felix falls short of fourth Olympics 200 berth

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Allyson Felix will still be in Rio de Janeiro competing for Olympic gold, but for the first time in her career, it won't be in the 200 meters.

Felix, the reigning Olympic 200 gold medalist who also has silver medals from 2004 and 2008, didn't have the early speed in Sunday's final to keep pace with Tori Bowie and Deajah Stevens, and was edged at the finish line for third following a dramatic stumble by Jenna Prandini at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.

Bowie, already on the American roster following a third-place finish July 3 in the 100, won the 200 title in 22.25. She follows Felix and Camelita Jeter, who both qualified to race in the two sprint events in the Olympics in 2012.

"It's like a dream come true, coming to the Olympic trials and leaving being the champion. I couldn't ask for more," Bowie said. "Of course I come here just like everyone else, wanting to leave with the (100) title. And that didn’t happen. It just motivated me a little bit more to run the 200 meters."

Stevens, NCAA runner-up in the 200 behind University of Oregon teammate Ariana Washington, placed second in 22.30 to become the first member of the current Ducks women's team to qualify for the Olympics.

"(Ariana) said, ‘I love you and I am proud of you.' If she would have made it I would have been proud of her. That is just the type of friendship we have," Stevens said. "It hasn't hit me yet. I'm super excited, I'm speechless. I wasn't expecting this, of course I wanted it but I wasn't sure. I just went for it."

Prandini, a former Oregon star and last year's U.S. national champion, endured a long delay before the results confirmed she finished third by a 22.53 to 22.54 margin over Felix, winner of the past three trials 200 titles.

"It wasn't something that I intentionally did, but I'm happy that it happened because it got me here," Prandini said. "I knew that Allyson was coming, but I just wanted to get to that finish line and do whatever it took to get on this team."

Felix, who captured the 400 title July 3 in a world-leading 49.68, was looking to become the first American female to win the 200 and 400 at the same trials. She suffered her first 200 loss in a U.S. national championship or trials final since Kimberlyn Duncan edged her 21.80 to 21.85 in 2013.

"I wasn't sure. I just knew I gave all I had and leaned at the line," Felix said. "I'm disappointed. All year I planned for this race, and for it to end here, it's disappointing. But when I look back and see everything that happened, I still think it's quite amazing that I was able to make this team. I feel like everything was against me."

Felix, who suffered a right ankle injury April 21, arrived in Eugene not having run a 200 in 10 months, in comparison to Bowie, Stevens and Prandini, who had all run 22.4 or better less than six weeks before trials.

"I hate that she's not on the team in 200, but she made the team in the 400," Bowie said. "She still has something to look forward to."

Felix will attempt to become only the second American woman to win career Olympic gold medals in the 200 and 400. Valerie Brisco-Hooks won both in Los Angeles in 1984.

"I'll just take the time we have to get back and perfect the 400," Felix said. "I mean, the speed just wasn't there today. When I give all I have and I run 22.5, the speed just wasn't there."

Washington, who won the NCAA title June 11 in 22.21, placed fifth in 22.65 and Harvard freshman Gabrielle Thomas -- third in the NCAA final in 22.47 -- placed sixth in 22.72. Washington is still expected to be selected to the 4x100 relay pool on the American roster following a sixth-place finish July 3 in the 100 in 11.01.