Trojan Named L.A. Sportswoman of the Year

The L.A. Sports Council handed out its top awards for 2007, and one of the biggest winners was USC's Allyson Felix. It's a role she should be pretty used to.

At a school where amateur athletes are the recipients of marketing campaigns, Felix has flown under the radar because she was competing in red, white, and blue -- not cardinal and gold. Her story is exceptional. Many athletes use USC as a springboard to their professional careers, but Felix turned pro at 18. With sponsorship money already pouring in and her first Olympics a year away, the sprinter did what few people in her position opt to do -- enroll in college.

Felix couldn't run in NCAA meets, but she's been representing the Trojans at a much higher level. The USC grad sprinted to a silver in the 200-meter at the 2004 Olympics and has consistently placed first at world-class meets ever since. In 2006, she won an ESPY award. In 2007, she went to the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, and came home with a whopping three gold medals (200m, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay) -- just the second female athlete to accomplish that feat.

Her golden performance made the council's list of Greatest Sports Moments of 2007 and earned her the title of L.A.'s Sportswoman of the Year. Her male counterpart, David Beckham, may have stolen more headlines, but Felix stole the show when picking up her award. As Felix came up to accept wearing enormous red heels, legendary Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully couldn't resist cracking a couple of jokes. Both are quick on their feet.

The program also honored the top moment in 2007 for all local teams. USC's best, chosen by Internet voters from a list submitted by the school, was winning the NCAA women's soccer national championship. Other nominees had been the men's basketball run in the NCAA tournament and the football team's record streak of six consecutive Pac-10 titles and BCS appearances.

A panel of media experts ranked the region's overall top 10 moments and went a slightly different direction than the USC fans. The Trojans' football streak was named L.A.'s 6th greatest moment in 2007. The Ducks' Stanley Cup victory claimed first.

USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was there to pick up the school's hardware. Also on hand was USC alum and sports personality Petros Papadakis, who emceed the event with Bill Macdonald.

After the show, Felix said that she planned on running the 200-meter and 100-meter in the Olympic trials and hopes to make a couple of relay teams, as well. Asked about the top sports moment she'd ever seen, she quickly recalled Michael Johnson's 200-meter record at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She hopes to have some more memorable moments of her own this summer in Beijing.