Eugene (United States) (AFP) – Allyson Felix breezed into the semi-finals of the 200 meters at the US Olympic track and field trials here Friday in her first race over the distance in 10 months.
Felix, the reigning 200m Olympic champion, has already qualified for the 400m after a superb victory on Sunday.
However the 30-year-old has not raced the 200m, her specialist event, since competing in Belgium last September.
“It felt good, it felt comfortable,” Felix told reporters. “It’s been a long time.”
Felix showed no sign of the ankle injury which has been troubling her since a freak gym accident in April in Friday’s heat.
She built a clear lead coming off the curve and was never threatened as she coasted home with plenty to spare in 22.93 seconds.
Felix said her victory in the 400m on Sunday — hailed by coach Bobby Kersee as her greatest ever race — had given her more confidence in her ankle, which is still not fully mended.
“I do have more confidence in my ankle that it can withstand it,” Felix said. “It’s hanging in there. Just trying to see how it does on the curve.”
Felix, the reigning world 400m champion, is bidding to become only the third woman to win both the 400m and 200m at the same Olympics.
Felix now races in the semi-finals of the 200m on Saturday with the final scheduled for Sunday.
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