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Allyson Felix excited to start 2015 season in Doha

Xinhua, May 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

It will be the 12th time for American sprinter Allyson Felix to set her foot on the Qatar Sport Club track in Friday's 2015 Diamond League opener. But the American sprinter is still excited to run in Doha.

"I am very excited to be here again and start the 2015 Diamond League season. It's always a pleasure to be back," the 29-year-old told a press conference here on Thursday.

"Qatar has hosted so many sports events in recent years, they are doing an amazing job. They are constantly building and introducing new innovations. Athletes always love to be here," the reigning Olympic 200m champion added.

First competing on the Qatar Sport Club track in 2005, Felix has won 10 titles in Doha including three in the 100m, two in the 200m and five consecutively in the 400m from 2007 to 2011. She only lost once in 2013 to Amantle Montsho in the 400m and also missed the 2014 race due to a hamstring injury which forced her to sit out for almost throughout the whole 2014 season.

"I am feeling good and healthy now. It was definitely difficult to return from injury. When you try to come back, you need to start again from the basics, be patient and see the bigger picture," she said.

This time in Doha, Felix is aiming for her third 200m title in Doha but will face tough challenge from Murielle Ahoure of Cote d'Ivoire, who grabbed two silver medals in the 100m and 200m at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

It will be the sixth straight year for the Qatari capital city to host the kick-off meeting of the IAAF Diamond League.

The organizers have assembled athletes from 54 countries and regions all over the world including 12 reigning Olympic champions and 11 current world champions from overall 16 Olympic champions and 26 world champions, as well as 10 Diamond Race winners of 2014. Endi