US lay down gauntlet for rivals

Philadelphia:The United States swept all six races against a World team in the Penn Relays at Franklin Field on Saturday in an ominous show of form ahead of the London Olympics.

The American track and field team have set the lofty goal of 30 medals this summer.

Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross, Walter Dix, Justin Gatlin, and Lashawn Merritt showed they want their share.

"London, here we come," Merritt said.

On a chilly and windy day, the men and women simply did what they wanted on the track against teams from Belgium and the Bahamas to Venezuela and Kenya, keeping the thrilling finishes to a minimum and giving a decisive glimpse into what to expect at the Olympics.

The women won the sprint medley relay, the 400-metre relay and the 4x400. The men won the 400 relay, the distance medley relay and the 4x400 in the 118th running of the renowned meet.

"We're in the right direction heading to London," 2008 Olympics bronze medallist Bershawn Jackson said. "Just for America to come out on top 6-0, that says that America is coming this year."

The relays belonged to Felix, a three-time Olympic medalist, who flashed the speed that's long made her a fan favourite at the Penn Relays.

Felix teamed up with Tianna Madison, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter to set a Penn Relays record in the 400 with a time of 42.19 seconds.

Looking forward

She also was in a team with Francena McCorory, Natasha Hastings and Sanya Richards-Ross that set the mark in the 4x400 with a time of three minutes, 21.18 seconds.

"It just really makes me look forward to London 2012," Jeter said.

The final day of the Penn Relays is traditionally the biggest — in both crowds and marquee names.

"It was exciting for us to cross the line and kind of finish it off for Team USA. It was amazing," Richards-Ross said. "Usually the Jamaicans give us some trouble in one of the relays."

Jamaican stars Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell did not compete.

The US women opened the series with a win in the sprint medley relay. Porscha Lucas, Barbara Pierre, Phoebe Wright and Maggie Vessey won in 3:42.85.

Led by Mike Rodgers, Gatlin, Doc Patton and Dix, the men won the 400 relay in 38.40.

Suspended for four years in 2006 after testing positive for excessive testosterone, Gatlin's second chance has the 2004 gold medal winner in contention for another spot in the Olympics.

Tyler Mulder, David Neville, Khadevis Robinson and Leo Manzano won the distance medley relay in 9:19.31. Manzano caught world champion Bernard Lagat on the closing lap for the unexpected win.

Lagat regained the American record in the indoor 5,000 metres this year. The veteran runner was disappointed with his finish.

"I felt that my legs were a bit heavy," he said. "This week has been hard in training, but I always like to win.

Jackson, Merritt, Angelo Taylor and Calvin Smith won the 4x400 in 3:00.15.