Allyson Felix prevailed in her Olympic Trials 200m first-round heat, clocking 22.93 seconds to make the semifinals. She was .06 faster than second-place finisher Morolake Akinosun.
Felix’s accomplishment is all the more impressive considering a severe ankle injury she suffered in April. The runner tore multiple ligaments after a training-related accident in which she slipped on a medicine ball.
On Sunday, Felix overcame her mending injury to win the women’s 400m in 49.86 seconds – the fastest time of any runner in 2016.
“I have more confidence in the ankle that it can withstand it,” Felix said after her race Friday. “Nothing has really changed between the [400] and the [200]. I just trying to see how it does on the curve.”
The fastest qualifiers into Saturday’s semifinals were Jenna Prandini (22.72 seconds) and Tori Bowie (22.74).
At the Olympics, Felix hopes to become the first American since Michael Johnson to win gold in both the 200m and 400m races at a single Games.
Only two other women have accomplished this feat: Valerie Brisco-Hooks at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, and Marie-Jose Perec at the Atlanta Games in 1996.
Track and Field Trials: Results | Daily Schedule | TV Schedule
