Olympic Track 2012: Allyson Felix and Gold-Medal Odds in Women's 200M Dash

After a surprising fifth-place finish in the 100-meter dash for Team USA, Allyson Felix got right back to work in her specialty. Preliminary heats began in the 200-meter dash today for the ladies.

The Jamaicans and the Americans will once again battle it out for sprinting supremacy. The first round went to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Jamaica in the 100.

How does Allyson Felix stack up against the other favorites? Click through to find out.

Sanya Richards-Ross

Gold Medal Odds: 16/1

After finally winning the 400-meter dash in convincing fashion, Richards-Ross returns to try her hand at this shorter distance. It looked like she took the momentum from her victory into her first 200-meter heat as she posted the top qualifying time while relaxing at the end.

The gold medalist rounds out a strong group of U.S. women that are a serious threat for a sweep in this event. The short-distance specialists will likely outgun her, but do not count out a surprise on the podium from Richards-Ross if she can continue her brilliant Olympics.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Gold Medal Odds: 4/1

Can the fastest woman in the world sweep the 100 and 200?

By some accounts Fraser-Pryce has drastically improved her 200 this year, and she could give the U.S. women a run for their money. To win a race she once loathed would be a true testament to her dedication and skill.

Indeed, her hard work seems to have paid off. Fraser-Pryce won the event at the 2012 Jamaican Olympic Trials. She may be the fastest woman in the world, but she will have to contend with several established runners in this event, including her own countrywoman...

Veronica Campbell-Brown

Gold Medal Odds: 10/1

The defending world and Olympic champion may have some catching up to do.

Veronica Campbell-Brown has a legacy to maintain and she will not give up the 200-meter title without a fight. She cruised into the event semi-finals after taking a bronze medal in the 100, hoping to save her energy like the other competitors.

It will be tough sledding against the U.S. team and her teammates, all of whom posted better times at their respective Olympic trials. Is Campbell-Brown holding back more than her competition, or has her time at the top of this event come to an end?

Carmelita Jeter

Gold Medal Odds: 8/1

Last year's silver medalist at the world championships won the gold medal in the 100 in London. She looks good heading into the semi-finals of the 200.

Jeter paced herself well, finishing second among the Americans in qualifying while letting up at the end of the race.

Like many of her teammates, Jeter is peaking at the right time. She is having a strong Olympics thus far; a gold medal in the 200 would be a cherry on top of it all. She has a great chance considering Campbell-Brown has fallen off a bit and that Fraser-Pryce is relatively raw in this event.

Sherone Simpson

Gold Medal Odds: 20/1

Simpson is nearly a forgotten woman heading into the semis. After the hubbub surrounding the 100-meter dash—a race that involved all the other major players in this event—Simpson posted the slowest qualifying time among the group.

It could simply be a case of warming up for Simpson considering this was her first real race in London, but she has fallen off a bit since helping her team win the 4x100-meter gold at the 2004 Games. Simpson placed eighth at last year's world championships, and her main competition looks like it is at another level right now.

Allyson Felix

Gold Medal Odds: 5/2

After a strong fourth-place finish in the 100, Felix turns to her bread and butter. 

The U.S. sprinter was a silver medalist at the 2008 Games in Beijing, losing out to Campbell-Brown. She looks to redeem herself at the 2012 Games, and she seems primed to do just that.

Her time of 21.69 seconds beat the rest of the contenders handily at their respective trials and Felix has had a good run at the Olympics thus far. She should be the favorite heading into the semis and finals, but it will take a great race to beat this crowd.