RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 1 (Reuters) - Three-times 200 metres world champion Allyson Felix’s coach is leaning toward her skipping the chance to become the first woman to win a world double in the 200 and 400m.
Although the final decision would be a couple of weeks away, Saturday’s 400m race at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, would play a role, Bob Kersee told Reuters in a telephone interview from Los Angeles.
“But if I had to make a decision now, I probably would leave well enough alone,” said Kersee, the coach of numerous Olympic champions including Jackie Joyner Kersee and Florence Griffith Joyner.
“But I don’t have problems being greedy a little bit … It still might happen.”
The deal-breaker could be the world championships schedule in Daegu, South Korea, where the 400m will be contested before the 200.
“If it was the other way around I think it would be kind of a no-brainer for me,” Felix said in a separate interview.
“In a sense (the double) is do-able but you would have three days of 400s in your legs before you begin the 200.
“I don’t want to attempt it unless I am feeling like I can have a good attempt.”
Kersee, nevertheless, said his confidence in Felix over the longer distance continued to grow.
“She ran a great race in Rome,” he said, referring to a 49.81 seconds time prior to a fourth place finish in the 200m just 45 minutes later.
“But her favorite event is the 200,” he said. “And to be a four-time world champion would be something.”
Felix would also like to be on both the United States’ 4x100 and 4x400m relay teams. “So you are looking at three or four events,” her coach said.
The decision cannot be delayed for more than a couple of weeks because of the June 23-26 U.S. national championships, where Felix would need a top-three finish in the 400 to make the world championship squad.
She already has a wild card entry to Daegu in the 200 as defending champion. Whether she tries both, will ultimately be Kersee’s decision.
“I will definitely trust the decision that he will make,” said Felix, last year’s Diamond League champion in both distances.
If the decision is no, look for coach and runner to re-visit the opportunity next year.
“I am not ruling it out for London,” said Felix.
Although the final decision would be a couple of weeks away, Saturday’s 400m race at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, would play a role, Bob Kersee told Reuters in a telephone interview from Los Angeles.
“But if I had to make a decision now, I probably would leave well enough alone,” said Kersee, the coach of numerous Olympic champions including Jackie Joyner Kersee and Florence Griffith Joyner.
“But I don’t have problems being greedy a little bit … It still might happen.”
The deal-breaker could be the world championships schedule in Daegu, South Korea, where the 400m will be contested before the 200.
“If it was the other way around I think it would be kind of a no-brainer for me,” Felix said in a separate interview.
“In a sense (the double) is do-able but you would have three days of 400s in your legs before you begin the 200.
“I don’t want to attempt it unless I am feeling like I can have a good attempt.”
Kersee, nevertheless, said his confidence in Felix over the longer distance continued to grow.
“She ran a great race in Rome,” he said, referring to a 49.81 seconds time prior to a fourth place finish in the 200m just 45 minutes later.
“But her favorite event is the 200,” he said. “And to be a four-time world champion would be something.”
Felix would also like to be on both the United States’ 4x100 and 4x400m relay teams. “So you are looking at three or four events,” her coach said.
The decision cannot be delayed for more than a couple of weeks because of the June 23-26 U.S. national championships, where Felix would need a top-three finish in the 400 to make the world championship squad.
She already has a wild card entry to Daegu in the 200 as defending champion. Whether she tries both, will ultimately be Kersee’s decision.
“I will definitely trust the decision that he will make,” said Felix, last year’s Diamond League champion in both distances.
If the decision is no, look for coach and runner to re-visit the opportunity next year.
“I am not ruling it out for London,” said Felix.
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