For Felix, it's 200 meters to Beijing

For Felix, it's 200 meters to Beijing

Allyson Felix competes in a qualifying heat for the women's 100 meter race at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., Friday, June 27, 2008. Felix failed to qualify in the 100, so now her chances hinge on the 200 meters. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer


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Women's 200 meter semifinals: 2:05 p.m. Saturday

Women's 200 meter final: 4:40 p.m. Sunday

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Allyson Felix still has work to do to earn her trip to Beijing.

If things keep going the way they did Friday, it won't be hard work.

Felix coasted to a victory in her 200-meter preliminary heat, leaving her three races away from earning the Olympic spot that pretty much seems preordained.

She would already be in had she finished in the top three last weekend in the 100, but that didn't happen, so she must get there in her best event.

She won her heat in 22.68 seconds, wiping the brow below her white headband when it was over, then heading quickly off the track. Quarterfinals and semis are Saturday, and finals are Sunday.

"I've been waiting for this moment since I was a child, so it's good to get it started," Felix said.

She conceded her fifth-place finish in the 100 was hard to overlook in the long week since the finals.

"I thought about it," she said. "I didn't set myself up good in the semis, I put myself way out there in lane 8, which was not smart. I felt out of touch with the race. But I felt like I executed as best as I could."

Joining Felix in the next round will be all the usual suspects: 100 trials champion Muna Lee, Lauryn Williams, Marshevet Hooker, Carmelita Jeter.

There weren't any surprises in a competition that included five heats to eliminate only five runners.

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