PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (USA):
It took a whole lot of soul searching and some tinkering with her preparations, but American Allyson Felix believes she should be just right by the time her rivalry against Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown in the 200 metres resumes at this summer's IAAF World Championships of Athletics.
First Felix had to get over the huge disappointment of losing to Campbell-Brown in their highly anticipated clash at last year's Olympic Games. So she took some time off - longer than the usual off-season break - to come to grips with the fact that her ultimate goal in the sport had been shattered by the Jamaican's brilliant run in Beijing.
"We kinda started a little later this year and took a little more time off," she explained while at the Penn Relays here last weekend, where she ran a brilliant third leg for the winning American "Red" team during the USA vs the World 4x400 metres showdown in which Jamaica finished second.
"Started slowly ... I mean it was deliberate. It's just the Olympics were emotionally demanding, physically demanding. I just needed to kinda get away for a while and that's what I did. I completely removed myself from track and field and then just started rejuvenating.
RECHARGED
"Emotionally (losing at the Olympics) was extremely disappointing. And I mean, four years working for something and to have it not go the way that I wished. I just had to put things back into perspective and motivate myself for this year."
Now Felix believes she is fully recharged and ready to defend her world title against the woman she has developed a sort of alternating title contest.
Campbell-Brown won the 200 metres at the 2004 Olympics. But Felix secured titles at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships. The Jamaican returned last year to successfully defend her Olympic crown. Based on that trend, it would seem likely Felix would relish her chances at this year's IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
Yet she admitted she would prefer an Olympic title and wasn't happy the way she lost in Beijing.
"It was just fast," she recalled the 200 final that Campbell-Brown scorched in 21.74 seconds.
"Veronica ran an amazing race. She always does. So I just congratulate her.
"(But) it wasn't a great race for me," she said of her 21.93 clocking, able to laugh now. "I definitely didn't get out well. If I could have moved around the middle of the race again, but, you know, can't change things."
Well, not for that race. So Felix altered her normal preparations this season. It's all geared to winning in Berlin. By the time she reached Penns last week, she had already run two competitive races, double her American relay teammate, Jamaican-born Sanya Richards. It showed on Felix's sharp 49.64 seconds relay leg.
In addition to starting training later, Felix is also working to get faster, fully aware that Campbell-Brown's early blitz and excellent acceleration on the curb essentially doomed her gold medal prospects in Beijing.
Powerful runner
"I mean, she is a very powerful runner and I'm not, you know," the tall, graceful 23-year-old admitted. "I'm very long strides and everything. I need to work on my speed."
What requires less adjustment is her spirit. Felix, who laughed and smiled even while discussing her down moments last season, said she has nothing but respect for her rivals, particularly Campbell-Brown. She enjoys the intense contests and hopes they continue for years. That roaring desire is one thing she can't change.
"I'm a true competitor," Felix said. "I thrive off other people's competition. Yeah, it's fun for me."