With the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials set to begin, it's time to start thinking about who'll be on the team that makes up the largest percentage of the American Olympic roster (and usually contributes roughly 20 percent of the medal haul). Athletes need to finish in the top three and have the Olympic qualifying standard to go to Rio. Even if they don't have the standard, there's still a chance they might go if there aren't enough athletes that do. In those cases, the IAAF will fill the field to 32 going off this year's world performance lists.
However, most of the Americans know that's an unlikely scenario. There are at least three athletes (and, for the most part significantly more) with the Olympic standard in all but two of the 38 events where berths are still up for grabs. So, what that basically means is that you'd better finish in the top three if you want to go to Rio.
And it's that competitive nature that makes the U.S. Olympic Trials one of the best track meets in the world during the Olympic year. The Olympic Trials are so much better than regular U.S. nationals because so much more is at stake. And, unlike in the non-Olympic years when the starts aren't necessarily competing in their signature events (or even there), everyone at Olympic Trials takes part in the event(s) you're used to seeing them in. Because that's the only way they're making the Olympic team!
Speaking of the Olympic team, here's who I think will be on it. (Generally, the top six go in the 100 and 400 to fill out the relays, and whoever I think will be in the top three but doesn't have the Olympic standard has an asterisk.)
Men
100: Justin Gatlin, Trayvon Bromell, Tyson Gay
200: Justin Gatlin, Ameer Webb, Isiah Young
400: LaShawn Merritt, David Verburg, Arman Hall
800: Boris Berian, Donovan Brazier, Casimir Loxsom
1500: Matt Centrowitz, Ben Blankenship, Robby Andrews
5000: Ben True, Ryan Hill, Garrett Heath
10,000: Galen Rupp, Hassan Mead, Juan Estrada
110 Hurdles: Aries Merritt, David Oliver, Aleec Harris
400 Hurdles: Johnny Dutch, Michael Tinsley, Bershawn Jackson
Steeplechase: Evan Jager, Donn Cabral, Dan Huling
4x100: Marvin Bracy, Mike Rodgers, Ryan Bailey
4x400: Kyle Clemons, Vernon Norwood, Gil Roberts
LJ: Marquise Goodwin, Marquis Dendy, Jarrion Lawson
TJ: Christian Taylor, Will Claye, Omar Craddock
HJ: Erik Kynard, Jeron Robinson, Jesse Williams
PV: Sam Kendricks, Jake Blankenship, Mike Arnold
SP: Joe Kovacs, Kurt Roberts, Jordan Clarke
Discus: Sam Mattis, Jared Schuurmans, Rodney Brown
HT: *Kibwe Johnson, *AG Kruger, *Conor McCullough
Javelin: Cyrus Hostetler, Sam Crouser, Sean Furey
Decathlon: Ashton Eaton, Trey Hardee, Zach Ziemek
Women
100: Tori Bowie, English Gardner, Jasmine Todd
200: Allyson Felix, Jenna Prandini, Tori Bowie
400: Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory, Courtney Okolo
800: Ajee Wilson, Laura Roesler, Molly Ludlow
1500: Shannon Rowbury, Jenny Simpson, Brenda Martinez
5000: Abbey D'Agostino, Nicole Tully, Marielle Hall
10,000: Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld, Kellyn Taylor
100 Hurdles: Keni Harrison, Briana Rollins, Sharika Nelvis
400 Hurdles: Shamier Little, Cassandra Tate, Georganne Moline
Steeplechase: Emma Coburn, Leah O'Connor, Courtney Frerichs
4x100: Barbara Pierre, Tianna Bartoletta, Jeneba Tarmoh
4x400: Kendall Baisden, Quanera Hayes, Taylor Ellis-Watson
LJ: Brittany Reese, Janay DeLoach, Tianna Bartoletta
TJ: Kenturah Orji, Andrea Geubelle, *Christina Epps
HJ: Vasthi Cunningham, Chaunte Lowe, Liz Patterson
PV: Jenn Suhr, Sandi Morris, Lexi Weeks
SP: Michelle Carter, Jillian Camarena-Williams, Tia Brooks
Discus: Shelbi Vaughan, Whitney Ashley, Liz Podominick
HT: Amber Campbell, Jeneva Stevens, Amanda Bingson
Javelin: Kara Winger, Brittany Borman, Maggie Malone
Heptathlon: Barbara Nwaba, Erica Bougard, Sharon Day-Monroe
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