SportsJuly 8, 2008

Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. - Sprinter Tyson Gay elicited gasps and groans with his performance at the U.S. track and field trials.

The crowd went "wow" over his wind-aided time of 9.68 seconds in the 100 meters, then cried "whoa" a week later when he crumpled to the ground in the 200 quarterfinals with a strained left leg.

Just like that, Gay lost his shot at the sprint double at the Beijing Olympics. As did Allyson Felix, who made the team in the 200 but failed to qualify in the 100.

Now, American track and field is still looking for its next big star.

The sport lacks a superstar such as swimmer Michael Phelps, who will go for eight gold medals this August, or gymnast Shawn Johnson, who's being called the next Mary Lou.

"I know all eyes are on Michael Phelps right now and a few other people," said sprinter Lauryn Williams, who qualified in the 100, the event in which she won a silver medal the 2004 Athens Olympics. "But I think track and field has always naturally been in the limelight at the Olympics. ... I can't understand why we wouldn't take the spotlight back."

Sanya Richards certainly welcomes the bright lights.

She returned to her dominant form in the 400 after a year of battling an illness that caused painful ulcers in her mouth and on her legs.

Then there's the shot-put trio of Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell and Adam Nelson, looking for a USA sweep.

And distance runner Bernard Lagat - the only athlete to win two titles at the trials, the 1,500 and 5,000 - will get plenty of air time. Lagat, who has won bronze and silver in the 1,500 for his native Kenya, will compete as an American Olympian for the first time in Beijing.

"It shows that America is the place where dreams can happen," said Lagat, a Washington State alum. "My goal now is to do my best for this country."

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That common goal is shared by 200 champion Walter Dix and 100 winner Muna Lee, who will go for a double in the 100 and 200 sprints - events where a blazing run can create a lifetime legacy.

Especially in the 100.

The anticipated showdown between Gay and Jamaican teammates Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt in that event will lose some of its thunder if Gay's health is in question come Aug. 15.

"We're going to need him for the Olympic spirit," said Dix, who won the 200 and was second in the 100.

To think, Gay almost didn't make it in the 100 as well, coming close to a monumental slip-up in his opening heat. The sprinter eased up, had the field catch him and was forced to accelerate again, lunging across in fourth place, just good enough to advance.

Pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski, too, had a close call. She needed to clear her opening height on her final attempt just to make the team, and then went on to set an American record.

Defending Olympic 400 champion Jeremy Wariner made the squad, but lost his cloak of invincibility when LaShawn Merritt won the final, his second upset of the year over the world's supposed fastest 400-meter runner.

Still, some big names will be missing, most notably eight-time defending national champion Breaux Greer in the javelin, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Dwight Phillips in the long jump, 1,500 runner Alan Webb and 110-meter hurdler Allen Johnson, who took first in the 1996 Olympics.

Despite all the falls and close calls, coach Bubba Thornton has confidence in his team.

"There is no doubt this is going to be a very, very strong team," he said. "They believe in the magic they've been able to capture here."

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