USC names track after former Trojan, Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix

USC has named the track at Katherine B. Locker Track Stadium after Allyson Felix, it was reported Monday by Front Office Sports. Felix is a Trojans alumna as well as an Olympian who has earned 11 total medals, the most ever by an American track and field athlete.

Most recently, Felix won the gold medal in the 4×400 meter race at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Of her 11 medals, seven are gold, which is also a record for a female American track and field athlete.

Felix’s personal-best time of 21.69 seconds in the 200 meter race at the 2012 Olympics ranks as the third-fastest time by an American woman, and the sixth-fastest time by a woman overall. She is now retired from track and field.

“For me to be born and raised in Los Angeles and have such a history at USC, I am just completely humbled,” Felix said. “It’s such a huge honor to be a part of history in the campus, and it’s such a special place for me.”

Felix’s athletic ability was evident early on when she attended Los Angeles Baptist High School. After being named “High School Athlete of the Year” by Track and Field News, she chose to stay home and begin her collegiate career at USC.

Allyson Felix went on to help the Trojans to Pac-10 championships in both 2003 and 2004. At the age of 18 she competed in her first Olympics in 2004, going on to win the silver medal in the 200 meter event.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Felix has also been an advocate for women of color and the issues they face both in and outside of sports. Drawing from her own experience, Felix became a spokesperson for pregnant athletes and the stigma that comes with it, prompting Nike to expand its maternity policy in 2019.

Felix earned an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from USC in 2022, giving the commencement speech for that year’s class.

“To have discussions about the renaming [of the track] because of my character, my integrity and for fighting for women is something that doesn’t happen,” Felix said. “It just really shows what USC values. I feel proud of the things that I’ve stood for, and it makes me proud to be an alumna because of the direction that the school is going.”