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Decision time for Felix after 400 win

Felix
Ap
Felix

EUGENE – Allyson Felix’s dalliance with the 400 meters has led to a dilemma of whether she will run the event at worlds or hand off the spot to a teammate.

That decision could take days, maybe even weeks, to make.

Felix needed just 50.19 seconds – along with a powerful kick and a lean at the finish – to edge Natasha Hastings on a scorching Saturday at the U.S. championships.

The schedule at worlds is just too tight for Felix to consider racing the 400 along with the 200, which is her signature event and one she doesn’t have to run at nationals because she already has an automatic bye in the event in Beijing later this summer.

Hanging in the balance is Francena McCorory, who had the fastest time in the world heading into the race, but struggled around the track and finished fourth. The top three qualify.

Should Felix not run the 400 at worlds, McCorory would likely take her place.

“I would hope to get a decision pretty quickly, just to let the next person know,” Felix said.

Justin Gatlin exerted little energy in his first race at nationals, easily winning his opening heat of the 200 with a blazing time.

The 33-year-old sprinter finished in 19.92 seconds on a steamy afternoon. According to USA Track and Field, it’s the fourth-fastest time in the first round of a 200.

The only sprinters to run a 200 prelim faster are Carl Lewis (19.84), Shawn Crawford (19.88) and Michael Johnson (19.89).

Isiah Young had the second-fastest time of the afternoon, finishing 0.07 seconds behind Gatlin. The sprinters train together in Florida.

Also Saturday:

Dawn’s Day: Dawn Harper-Nelson got off to a fast start and cruised to the 100 hurdles title. Lolo Jones hit two hurdles and didn’t finish the race.

Of Merritt: David Verburg caught world champion LaShawn Merritt down the stretch to win the men’s 400. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Verburg said.

Esteemed company: 400 hurdler Bershawn Jackson captured his fifth outdoor title, joining Arky Erwin and Edwin Moses as the only ones to win that many in the event.