Allyson Felix and the United States placed third

Allyson Felix, the most decorated women track and field athlete, was caught on the second leg of the 4 x 400 mixed relay, and the other American woman, Kennedy Simon, on the anchor leg, was caught at the finish, and the United States had to settle for bronze in the 36-year-old Felix’ final race as she retires from competition.

The event was part of the opening day’s World Championships, the first in three years, and the initial one ever held in the United States as the 10-day star-studded competition began at Hayward Field of the University of Oregon Stadium in Eugene. There were eight other countries who qualified for this Friday night event.

Felix did not qualify for an individual event at the USA championships in June at the same site, but finishing sixth in the 400 meters final brought her a spot on the mixed relay quartet.

The opening leg for the United States, Elijah Goodwin, gave Felix a slim lead and she maintained it and also extended it some on the 200 meters turn, but she faded down the backstretch and was caught by Mariledidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic’s eventual gold medal winners.

After the baton pass, Vernon Norwood of the USA recaptured the lead on the third leg, and passed the stick on to Simon, who after a three-way encounter at the final 200 turn, not only lost the lead at the finish to the Dominican Republic’s Fiordaliza Cofil, but fast-closing Femke Bol of the Netherlands got past Simon and took second place.

Thus, Felix, now in her second decade as a track and field star, and best in the 200 and 400, picked up her 19th and final medal in the world championships, and it was her third bronze over her 10 trips to these championships, extending the record she already held, and adding to her 11 Olympic medals, a record for any American in track and field. Thus, from these two of the sport’s biggest events she now has a total of an even 30.