DAEGU, South Korea -- The world championships are supposed to offer a peek of what's in store for the 2012 London Olympics.
Yet some of the biggest names in U.S. track have been reduced to spectators.
Tyson Gay is out with a surgically repaired hip; Jeremy Wariner's sidelined with a torn ligament in his left foot; and Wallace Spearmon, along with hurdler Lolo Jones, didn't even make the team.
And Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Athens Olympics gold medalist who returned last summer after a four-year doping suspension, arrived in Daegu with frostbite on both feet after he entered a cryogenic chamber two weeks ago with wet socks. He didn't lose any toes, but his wounds are not completely healed.
As the world championships start this weekend, the clock's ticking on the London Olympics, and the Americans aren't exactly in prime position or health.
The loss of Gay and Wariner are big blows, especially because the American men have won at least one title in the 100, 200 or 400 at every world championships. Now, there's a distinct possibility that streak could be snapped.
In the 400, the Americans' chances rest on up-and-comer Tony McQuay and a rusty LaShawn Merritt, the defending world champ who has only raced once since his return from a 21-month doping suspension.
The Americans are also without sprinter Mike Rodgers, who recently accepted a provisional doping suspension and withdrew from competition after testing positive for a banned stimulant -- he maintains his innocence. And 200-meter runner Jeremy Dodson's eligibility remains in limbo after he was arrested on suspicion of identity fraud.
Usain Bolt, of course, will be the sprinter to beat.
The Jamaicans are the heavy favorites in the 100, especially with Asafa Powell running the top time in the world this season. Bolt, meanwhile, has the seventh-fastest time this season at 9.88 seconds, a bit off the world record of 9.58 he set in Berlin.
Still, he's Bolt and can turn it on at any time.
The Americans will counter with Walter Dix, who's finding his stride again after winning two bronze medals in Beijing. There's also Gatlin and Trell Kimmons, who will step in for Rodgers.
"I don't think Gatlin and Dix are causing the Jamaicans to lose a lot of sleep," sprints analyst Ato Boldon said. "And unfortunately, that's the event the U.S., and any team that calls themselves the No. 1 team in the world, is going to get judged on. If they get swept in the 100, which myself and others think can happen, that is going to set the tone in the first weekend for what may be a very ugly worlds."
Well, except for Allyson Felix, who's feeling so strong that she will run the 200 and 400, an arduous assignment given all the rounds and not much of a break in between events.
Leading up to worlds, Felix was hesitant to commit to racing in both events, not wanting anything to jeopardize her quest to capture a fourth straight 200 crown.
In the end, the challenge was simply too hard to pass up.
"I think it's time to step outside my comfort zone," the 25-year-old Felix said.
The endeavor might not be repeated next summer because for all her medals, one's noticeably missing: Olympic gold in her signature event, the 200.
Besides Felix and Merritt, the Americans will have six other reigning world champions, including Sanya Richards-Ross (400), Christian Cantwell (shot put), Trey Hardee (decathlon), Brittney Reese (long jump), Dwight Phillips (long jump) and Kerron Clement (400 hurdles).
The U.S. also has several athletes who enter the competition as the world leaders in their event this season and could give the team a boost. The squad captured 22 medals -- including 10 gold -- in Berlin two summers ago, well ahead of second place Jamaica (13).
"We want to certainly retain our unofficial title of No. 1 track team in the world," said Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, the chief of sport performance for U.S. Track and Field. "Maintaining that is a huge goal for us."
So is staying on track to win 30 medals in London.
In the wake of a disappointing showing in Beijing, ousted CEO Doug Logan hired a task force to look at the problems that led to the Americans winning just 23 medals.
The panel generated a report termed "Project 30," which was the number of medals Logan thought the U.S. should aim for in 2012.
"I think the spirit of 'Project 30' lives," Fitzgerald-Mosley said. "We think it's feasible."
Injuries and relay woes willing.
The relay system came under scrutiny after the 400 men's and women's teams both dropped batons in preliminaries in Beijing, leading to an embarrassing shutout.
The team attempted to shore things up this summer, even getting runners to commit to training camps and races -- a way to build camaraderie and rebuild the American relays' reputations.
Gatlin, too, is attempting to repair his tainted image as he competes on the biggest stage yet since returning from his doping ban last summer.
"Americans love heroes. But the one thing Americans love more than heroes is a good comeback story," Gatlin said. "People want to see tragedy, but people want to see people overcome tragedy, too. I really appreciate that.
"It brings more to my story."
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