Felix U.S.’ next in line on track

ATHENS — Allyson Felix took over a spot once occupied by Marion Jones, but she hasn’t replaced the queen of track entirely.

Felix, 18, ran her fastest official 200 meters ever to place second behind Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell in the Olympic final Wednesday. Despite missing the gold medal, Felix made it clear that, for now, the 200 meters belongs to her.

Jones won the event in the 2000 Olympics but failed to qualify for it this year when she withdrew from the Olympic trials semifinals.

Campbell blew around the curve to take a lead she would never relinquish. She won her country’s first sprint gold medal in 22.05 seconds.

Felix pushed Campbell on the straightaway, and though she couldn’t catch up, she ran 22.18 to topple a junior world record that had stood since 1980.

Felix had actually run faster, 22.11 in Mexico City last year, but that time didn’t count because meet officials didn’t arrange for drug testing.

Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas placed third in 22.30.

“I was a little disappointed, but then I realized what I had accomplished. I’m going home with a silver medal,” Felix said. “Seeing all those people there was an amazing feeling. This is something I could do every day.”

It’s doubtful she will get a chance to do it again in these Olympics.

The U.S. coaching staff announced Wednesday night that Jones will indeed have a spot on the 400 relay team that begins preliminary races today. Angela Williams will lead off, followed by Jones, Olympic 100 silver medallist Lauryn Williams and Latasha Colander.

The 400 relay team named was not surprising, considering the four sprinters ran on the winning relay at a Munich, Germany, meet earlier this month.

But the U.S. team had other options, a point made by Pat Connolly, Felix’s coach.

Felix had a faster leg than Jones at the Munich meet, although she ran with the USA II team that placed second to its compatriots.

“I can’t complain when she runs her best time ever,” Connolly said after the 200-meters. “She ran exactly as I told her to.

“I think they passed the torch. Now, we’ll see if they pass the baton.”