Now Tyson Gay and his band of speedsters are ready to take on the world. Gay, America's new sprint king, and a group of 20-year-olds blitzed through the US championships to win spots in the Aug. 25-Sept. 2 world championships in Osaka, Japan.

No athlete, young or old, was more impressive than the 24-year-old Gay, who clocked a world-leading 9.84 seconds in the 100m, then two days later ran the second-fastest 200m of all time, 19.62 seconds.

Gay hopes to repeat the double in Osaka and talked of a second consecutive US 200m sweep after 2005 silver medallist Wallace Spearmon and Rodney Martin won berths.

Collegians Trindon Holliday and Walter Dix are scheduled to join Gay in the 100m.

A similar wave of youth led the US to an impressive 25 medals in 2005. Ten of those 2005 standouts have free passes to Osaka as world champions. They include Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner and women's 200m world gold medallist Allyson Felix.

Pole vaulters Brad Walker and Jenn Stuczynski, 400m hurdlers James Carter and Tiffany Williams, men's javelin thrower Breaux Greer, women's 400m runner DeeDee Trotter and 100m hurdler Ginnie Powell also have world-leading marks.

The women's sprints could be especially strong with former 100m world champion Torri Edwards and Felix in the 100 and 200 and 2005 world champion Lauryn Williams back in the 100.

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