Allyson Felix gets all the help in 200/400m double bid at worlds

By John Bagratuni Aug 25, 2011, 7:30 GMT

Daegu, South Korea - She is already succeeding in her mind and pioneer Valerie Briscoe-Hooks will be on hand for help as well when Allyson Felix seeks the first women's 200m and 400m title double at world championship level.

If that wasn't enough, Felix is also after another 4x400m title and could even feature in the 4x100m relay.

'There are great competitors in both events. It will definitely be extremely difficult,' the 25-year-old US sprinter told reporters on Thursday.

Briscoe-Hooks was the first woman to get a 200m and 400m double (plus the 4x400m title) on the big stage at the 1984 Olympics. The feat has only been emulated by Marie-Jose Perec of France, at the 1996 Games.

Now Felix tries to do the same on world championship level.

While Felix is the three-times reigning 200m world champion (and has two 4x400m titles), the 400m is new territory for her on the big stage.

Doing the double will involve six races in seven days, with the 400m first from Saturday onwards. In addition, she is only fourth in the 400m year list and sixth in the 200m.

An all-out effort will be needed to succeed against such formidable opposition as Veronica Campbel-Brown of Jamaica, who seeks a 100m and 200m double and denied Felix an elusive Olympic gold in 2008. The main 400m rival is fellow-American title-holder Sanya Richards.

'It is an extremely difficult task. I know that. It is the challenge of the schedule. I am not world leading in any of the events and I know it will be tough,' she said.

However, Felix got the best preparation possible from experienced coach Bob Kersee, who was already in charge of Briscoe-Hooks 27 years ago.

Briscoe-Hooks will also be in Daegu for Felix' races and has offered her advice since Felix decided to attempt the double.

'She told me to take it one day at a time. Focus on that round. Don't think about the 200 now and focus on the 400,' Felix said.

The pep talks from the former star Briscoe-Hooks will help Felix a lot, and she is also doing well when she goes through the races in her mind.

'I don't lose in my mind,' she said. 'Now it is about putting it all together.'

But Felix is realistic enough to take defeat into account - at least in the 400m, and knows she will have to quickly regroup for the 200m in that scenario in what she names 'a learning experience.'

'I'm in it to win it but it will be OK if it doesn't end up that way. It would be tough, but I have no choice, and when you are in the midst of it I would still be defending my title in the 200m, and that is really important to me,' Felix said.