Double Sprint for Gold | God's World News

Double Sprint for Gold

03/02/2016
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    Allyson Felix talks to reporters after an event. (AP)
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    Felix has been training for both the 200- and 400-meter events at the Rio Olympics. (AP)
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    Allyson shows gold after the 400-meter at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing. (AP)
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    Felix proudly displays the flag after a big win. (AP)
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    Whew! Will running two races take too much out of the runner? (AP)
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The Olympics don’t kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for several more months. But U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix has already gotten her first win of the 2016 Games. International track and field officials changed the official race schedule. The new timetable means Felix has won the opportunity to race for gold—in not one but two events.

Allyson Felix is among the world’s best sprinters. She runs 100-, 200-, and 400-meter races. The 200-meter race is her specialty. She is the 2012 Olympic champion at that distance. She has many other awards and three gold medals as a member of relay teams.

Last year, Felix won the 400 at the national and world championships but couldn't try for the 200-400 double because of the same scheduling issue. Now Felix wants to race—and win—both the 200 and the 400 in the Olympic Games.

"Being able to pursue the double has been a goal of Allyson's since she entered the sport," says her coach, Bobby Kersee.

Officials from USA Track and Field asked the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to adjust the Olympic track schedule. The original schedule put the 200-meter qualifying heats just 75 minutes before the 400-meter final.

The IAAF agreed to the change. They moved the opening rounds of the women's 200-meter race from the evening to earlier in the day.

The 200 heats are usually a breeze for Felix. But running both races the same night would have been very difficult. The move gives the six-time Olympic medalist a chance to run the 200 heats and still recover for the 400-meter final that evening.

Switching races around to help an athlete has happened before. In 1996, the IAAF shifted the schedule so American sprinter Michael Johnson could go for the 200-400 double. He won gold in both.

Felix hopes she can do the same this year. Still, the sprinter was ready to try the double—even if the decision didn’t go her way.

"She's very dedicated to it. She's committed to the challenge," says her coach.

God’s word encourages those who run to win. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” Allyson Felix runs her races to win.

Jesus has already secured your victory Himself. Run your race like the champion He has made you!