With the movie McFarland, USA set to hit theaters on Feb. 20, USA TODAY High School Sports is looking back at some of the top athletes to be part of the American Family Insurance ALL-USA track and field teams over the years. Based on a true story from 1987, McFarland, USA tells the story of coach Jim White, who took an unlikely group of athletes in a predominantly Latino small town in California and built a legacy of cross country runners.
ALLYSON FELIX
Event: 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters
High school: Los Angeles Baptist (North Hills, Calif.)
ALL-USA history: Felix was named to the ALL-USA first team in 2003. As a senior, her time of 22.11 seconds in the 200 meters at a Grand Prix meet in Mexico City was the fastest in history at the time for a high school girl.
After ALL-USA: Felix, who attended USC, turned pro at age 17. She went on to win a gold medal for 200m at the 2012 Olympics in London. She also earned Olympic gold medals twice as part of the 4 x 400 relay and once with the 4 x 100 relay. A two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 200 meters, Felix is also a six-time USA Outdoor 200 champion.
Today: After a difficult comeback from a torn hamstring suffered during the 200 final at the 2013 world championships, Felix has been training to compete in the 400m at this year’s world championships. She also aims to qualify for her fourth Olympics in 2016.
Allyson Felix was an ALL-USA selection in 2003 at Los Angeles Baptist High (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)
Allyson Felix was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s 4×400 meter relay team at the London Olympics in 2012 (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)