SOUTHERN SECTION MASTERS GIRLS: FELIX PROVES UNTOUCHABLE.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

NORWALK - Allyson Felix running the 200 meters is often spectacular but rarely compelling. The outcome is about as certain as the sun setting.

It was around that time Friday, with a cool breeze blowing into her face, that Felix ran a race she hasn't run in a while - one in which she had something to prove.

Shalonda Solomon of Long Beach Poly finished ahead of Felix last week in the 100 meters, in time only - they ran in different divisions at the Southern Section finals.

Running in the same heat on Friday, Felix won easily in 11.48 at the Masters meet at Cerritos College, the second-fastest time in the nation this season.

In the 200, Felix, a junior at L.A. Baptist in North Hills, moved up to a tie for fifth on the all-time girls' list at 22.95.

Solomon was second in both races but not nearly as close as she would have been had she run the times she did last week. She ran 11.62 and 23.56.

``When she gets that lead, it's over and everyone else knows it,'' said Jon Patton, Felix's sprint coach. ``I think they kind of let down. She has a presence, not arrogance or cockiness, just an understanding people have that she's the real deal.''

Felix has had so much success in the postseason, she is under considerable pressure to put up progressively better marks. But she hasn't disappointed. Both times were personal records.

``I was really motivated today, especially in the 100,'' Felix said. ``I wanted to show what I could do against competition.''

Felix, running with Tami Hall, Brittany Ricketts and Erica Fleming, also led L.A. Baptist to the last qualifying spot in the 400 relay.

The top-five finishers in each event qualified for next Friday's state prelims, also at Cerritos.

Katie Gose from La Reina of Thousand Oaks qualified in the 3,200 meters. Gose gave all she had to finish fourth in a close race for the final qualifying spots. After the race, she was so exhausted she vomited on the grass.

``Well, I guess it's better than last year when I threw up at the starting line of the CIF finals,'' Gose said with a smile. ``I didn't know what place I was in so I really went all out over the final 100 meters.''

Her time of 10:51.12 was a personal record by five seconds, and she needed all five seconds to qualify.

Lindsay Flacks from Harvard-Westlake of Studio City was the odd man out in the race for the final spots at state. Flacks, who was suffering from a twisted knee, gutted it out and finished with a personal record of 10:53.43 for sixth place.

She injured her knee during the school week. She was late for school and tripped rushing up steps.

``It was a little stupid mistake, but I battled through it,'' said Flacks, a sophomore. ``It came down to the last kick and, with the knee, I just didn't have it.''

Alysia Johnson of Canyon of Santa Clarita won the 800 meters in 2:14.88. She was excited to have the chance to go back to state, where she had trouble last season. Carolyn Brown from Burroughs of Burbank also qualified in the 800, finishing fourth in 2:14.88.

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Photo:

Allyson Felix of L.A. Baptist, right, ran away from rival Shalonda Solomon in the girls' 100 in the Southern Section Masters meet.

Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News