Confusion lingered after Allyson Felix collapsed to the track 60 meters into the world championship w200 final.  Shortly after the final commenced, the defending champion started to wobble as the field began attacking the curve.  Grabbing her right hamstring, Felix tumbled as the other finalists sped away.  Because of Felix’s lane 3 assignment, only her teammates Jeneba Tarmoh (lane 1) and ChaRonda Williams (lane 2) observed her disaster.  Most of the other finalists – in front of Felix due to outer lane assignments – were unaware of her mishap – several for nearly an hour.  Careful MRI analysis also delayed release of the source of Felix’s injury – ultimately revealed to be a right medial hamstring tear.  “I’m extremely devastated," Felix said in a post-race interview.  "I was really hoping to go out there and put together a great race.  Now I am consulting with doctors to figure out what is going on with my right hamstring," she said. "It is a serious injury, but I don’t know exactly to what extent.”

Here is a sampling of reaction from other selected athletes:

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, w200 gold medalist:  “That [Felix’s injury] was very unfortunate.  It is so unfortunate that this happened.  We pray that she will be healthy soon.”

Murielle Ahoure, w200 silver medalist:  “I literally found out [about Felix’s injury] from an interviewer.  He told me that she got hurt.  I had no idea.”

Blessing Okagbare, w200 bronze medalist:  “I saw it [the Felix catastrophe] after I crossed the finish line and someone [her brother Wes] carried her.  That’s really painful.  It’s bad.  It could have been me.  Allyson is a great athlete.  And I know she came out here to do something really good.  We just have to move on.”