Allyson Felix boasts five Olympic gold medals in the relays and seven world titles in the 4×100 or 4×400. But at age 32, she’s still sharpening her stick work.
At Saturday’s Mt. SAC Relays, she ran the second leg of an All Stars team 4×100 — taking the baton from London IAAF teammate Aaliyah Brown and handing off to former USC All-American Destinee Brown. (Kendall Baisden, a 400-meter specialist, anchored.)
But Felix wasn’t the fastest woman on the track this day. That honor went to USC’s Twanisha Terry, who won the invitational 100 in a world-class 10.99 seconds and anchored the Trojans to first in the relay in a school-record 42.57.
Felix’s team was third in 42.94 — just behind Oregon’s 42.93.
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Dalilah Muhammad, the Rio Olympic champion, wins Mt. SAC Relays 400-meter hurdles in 55.25 seconds. Photo by Chris Stone
Aries Merritt, hitting hurdle, would lose to David Kendziera of lllinois, 13.47 to 13.49 at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Olympic champion and world record holder Aries Merritt leads Freddie Crittenden III (left) and David Kendziera of lllinois. Photo by Chris Stone
Misana Viltz battles Amere Lattin of Houston in the 110-meter hurdles at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Olympic champion Brianna Rollins McNeal clears last barrier in winning the 100-meter hurdles at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Aaliyah Brown (No. 2) starts in synch with the women’s invitational 100-meter dash at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Aaliyah Brown (No. 2) starts in synch with the women’s invitational 100-meter dash at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Lauren Rain Williams of Oregon gets her muscles firing ahead of start of 100-meter dash. Photo by Chris Stone
Tara Davis of Georgia is enveloped in hair in winning the invitational long jump at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Tara Davis of Georgia gets height in the invitational long jump at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Tara Davis of Georgia reaches for landing in the invitational long jump at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Vashti Cunningham missed three tries at 6-5 at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Amber Melville took sixth in the invitational high jump — clearing 6-0 at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Gusin of Georgia stretched toward the bar on the way to finishing third at 6-2 at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Vashti Cunningham consults with her coach, and father, Randall Cunningham at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Vashti Cunningham eyes bar on way to winning the invitational high jump at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Hawaii coach Tim Boyce congratulates Lily Lowe during her personal-record meet. Photo by Chris Stone
Lily Lowe of Hawaii clears bar on way to her fifth-place 6-0 mark at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Lily Lowe of Hawaii focuses on bar at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Tatiana Gusin of Georgia arches over bar in women’s invitational high jump at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
An entrant in the women’s elite pole vault flies away from the bar at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Aiden Lieb of Peninsula High School has a hair-raising land in the boys triple jump at the Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Aaliyah Brown hands off to Allyson Felix at Mt. SAC Relays invitational 4×100 relay. Photo by Chris Stone
Allyson Felix hands off to Destinee Brown in women’s invitational 4×100 at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Ken Stone
Arizona’s Savaughn Christman hands off to Tatum Waggoner in a college 4×100 relay. Photo by Ken Stone
Allyson Felix, after her race, waves at an acquaintance at Mt. SAC Relays. Photo by Chris Stone
Lily Lowe of Hawaii shows emotion to proud coach Tim Boyce after clearing a personal-record 6 feet in the Mt. SAC Relays high jump. Photo by Chris Stone
Jessamyn Sauceda takes second in the Mt. SAC Relays invitational long jump. Photo by Chris Stone
Maria Natalia Londa of Indonesia takes fourth in the Mt. SAC invitational long jump. Photo by Chris Stone
Jessie Gaines of GSTC New Balance takes fifth in the Mt. SAC Relays invitational long jump. Photo by Chris Stone
As a prep at Los Angeles Baptist, Felix first ran at the Mt. SAC Relays in 2001. She’s been back many times since.
Comments on YouTube weren’t all kind, however.
One said: “She still trying to do these relays? Give it up. That’s all she can do because she can never win any solo race.”
Felix still ranks among the nation’s best, however. The future Hall of Famer took bronze last year in the 400-meter dash at the IAAF World Championships, joining Merlene Ottey and Usain Bolt with the most medals (14) at the world meet.
Still popular with many, including fellow athletes, Felix posed with fans for pictures on the artificial turf infield after her lone race Saturday.
Felix’s 49.65 was the fastest 400 run by an American in 2017. Her 100 (11.03) was in the top 10, and her 200 (22.33) was No. 4 on the national list.
Complete results of the Mt. SAC Relays — contested at El Camino College’s Murdock Stadium while Hilmer Lodge Stadium is being rebuilt — are here.
