Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahouré Shocks Allyson Felix in Rome

While Justin Gatlin’s defeat of Usain Bolt took center stage in Rome last Thursday, two races prior was another major upset that was practically ignored: the women’s 200 meters featuring USA’s many-time champion and London 2012 Olympic Games champion gold medalist Allyson Felix.

There was no Veronica Campbell-Brown, Felix’s archrival over the distance, or the London 2012 100meter champion and 200meter silver medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is now seeking to own that event. But the race turned out to be a stunner as Ivory Coast’s US-based Murielle Ahouré ran a national record of 22.38 and left Felix trailing a distant second in 22.64.

Ahouré, who finished in sixth place behind Felix in London, was a stride clear of the field coming off the bend before accelerating again. Felix on the lane inside the African sprinter, could not catch her. After her stunning victory, Ahoure said: “To be honest, I was not thinking about it [the record] before the start. I just wanted to execute my race properly. I was not worried about having strong opponents next to me. It will be the same at the World Championships.”

The daughter of an army general and the woman who has been described as the unknown factor in the final of any big race has now joined Jamaica’s Campbell-Brown and Fraser-Pryce as Diamond League leaders on four points each. She has a season best in the shorter sprint of 11.09. Felix is ranked fourth with Jamaicans Anneisha McLaughlin and Sherone Simpson on two points each.

Ahouré copped the silver medal in the 60meters at 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. She was the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion over 200meters while running for the University of Miami. Her personal best at 100m is 10.99 (London, 2012) and in 200m 22.42 (Oslo, 2012).