Allyson Felix Selected For Record Ninth Time
For a record Ninth consecutive time, six-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix was chosen for the World Athletics Championships in the U.S. squad. Felix, 33, only returned to competitive riding at last week’s Great North City Games, just 10 months after she gave birth to her first child, which required an emergency caesarean. She was named as part of the relay squad for the 4×400 m. The championships will be running from late September to early October, and will be hosted by Doha.
There are eight world champions in the 141-member U.S. squad, including sprinter Justin Gatlin. After a 100 m race in Zagreb on 3 September, Gatlin, 37, pulled up clutching his hamstring but later said it wasn’t too severe. The controversial athlete, who served a doping ban twice, won gold in the 100 m at the London 2017 Olympics and was booed throughout his medal ceremony.
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A number of Gatlin’s fellow sprinters have been selected, including World Silver Medalist Christian Coleman and Champion Noah Lyles of the Diamond League 200 m, as well as Dalilah Muhammad, the 400 m women’s world record hurdles. Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor and long jumper Jeff Henderson, mid-range runner Matthew Centrowitz and shot thrower Ryan Crouser, all of whom earned gold in Rio 2016, are also among those scheduled to compete in Qatar. The titles they won in 2017 will be defended by Phyllis Francis (400 m), Kori Carter (400 m hurdles), Emma Coburn (3,000 m steeplechase) and Brittney Reese (high jump).
