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Sprinter Allyson Felix seeks happy ending in Rio to her 'year of adversity'

USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES — Allyson Felix crouched into a sprinter’s stance 80 meters from her coach, Bobby Kersee, with strict instructions: Cover the distance in no more than 11.80 seconds.

Kersee blew his whistle three times. Suddenly Felix was bolting down the track.

When she hit the 40-meter mark during the recent training session at Drake Stadium on UCLA’s campus, Kersee’s lips were moving almost as fast as Felix’s feet.

“Left arm, dig!" he shouted. “Come on! Dig it, dig it, dig!