World C'ship: Felix to skip 100m

Osaka, Japan:

Allyson Felix has withdrawn from the 100 meters at the world track and field championships in order to concentrate on the 200, where she is the defending champion.

Mechelle Lewis will take Felix's spot in the 100. Lewis joins defending world champion Lauryn Williams, 2003 world champion Torri Edwards and Carmelita Jeter as the US contingent in the race.

Lewis, Pan American Games silver medalist, finished fifth at the US championships, just behind Felix. The United States has four in the event because Williams has an automatic berth as defending champion.

Felix said that her coach Bob Kersee made the decision to keep her out of the 100.

She has a best of 11.01 seconds in the 100 this year. Only three runners in the world have gone faster this season - Jamaican Veronica Campbell, Edwards and American Me'Lisa Barber, who did not qualify for the event.

Felix has the world's fastest 200 time this season at 22.18.

"I'm going to be extremely ready for that race," she said.