Felix set for her fifth Olympics

Punches her Tokyo ticket by finishing second in 400m at the U.S. trials

June 21, 2021 10:18 pm | Updated 10:19 pm IST - Reuters

Allyson Felix, seen with her daughter Camryn .

Allyson Felix, seen with her daughter Camryn .

U.S. track star Allyson Felix is going to the Olympics — for a fifth time.

The 35-year-old punched her ticket to Tokyo on Sunday, finishing second in the 400m at the U.S. trials in 50.02 seconds to claim her spot for the Summer Games, extending a glittering career with nine Olympic medals already in her coffers.

With her 2-1/2-year-old daughter, Camryn, watching from the stands, Felix once again showed why she is the most decorated female track athlete in American history, exploding off the blocks and fending off a stacked field.

“It has been a fight to get here and one thing I know how to do is fight,” Felix said after the race. “To make the fifth one — so special.”

Fighting hard

Her chance of competing in Tokyo appeared in doubt as she trailed going into the final 50m, but she fought to the finish line, before rolling onto her back and kicking her legs in the air in celebration.

Felix, who picked up a record 13th gold at the 2019 Worlds, will be joined in Tokyo by Quanera Hayes, who won in 49.78, and Wadeline Jonathas, who finished third in 50.03.

Rudy Winkler set an American record of 82.71 metres in the hammer throw, winning the U.S. trials for a second time in a row.

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