Eugene: A balanced US team bursting with talent should dominate the medals at this year's athletics world championships, its men's coach said after the American trials concluded on Sunday.
Although such big names as 2011 world leaders Tyson Gay and Brad Walker failed to make it through the cut-throat trials, Vin Lanana said he believed the United States would top the medals table at the August 27-September 4 championships in Daegu, South Korea.
"We have the number one team in the world, and I think we are in a position this year to keep that string alive," Lanana told Reuters.
Jumpers, hurdlers, sprinters, shot putters and decathletes power the men's team.
Long jumper Dwight Phillips, 400 metres hurdler Kerron Clement, shot putter Christian Cantwell and decathlete Trey Hardee will travel to Daegu as reigning champions. World leaders David Oliver, Jesse Williams and Ashton Eaton could also win gold.
Oliver holds the world lead in the 110 metres hurdles with a mark of 12.94 seconds, high jumper Williams soared a life-time best 2.37 metres on Sunday and decathlete Eaton scored an impressive 8,729 points in the trials.
"We're in a great position to see what he can do in the world stage," Lanana said of the young Eaton.
Keen contest
Double sprint champion Walter Dix also promised victory, although his is a tough ask against world record holder Usain Bolt and the Jamaican's speedy compatriots in the 100 and 200 metres.
But the absence of world silver medallist Gay, who scratched from the trials with hip problems before the 100-metre semi-finals, could trim US medal expectations.
Pole vaulter Walker also is out after no-heighting.
For up-and-coming performers, Lanana can turn to Tony McQuay, who surprised former Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner in the 400, triple jumpers Will Claye and Christian Taylor and Jeshua Anderson, who outran a group of talented US 400 metres hurdlers.
