LOS ANGELES, CA - It's not quite as do-or-die as the Olympic Trials, but in years when the World Championships are to be contested, the USATF national championships - which take place 23-26 June at the Home Depot Center - come close. Especially in the sprints and the hurdles races.

The top three finishers here in Carson get to go to Helsinki, Finland as members of the U.S. team at the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (6 - 14 August 2005).

Sizzling 100m line-up

So who makes the team in the men's 100 metres when you've got 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin (qualifying time, 9.85), Former three time World and 2000 Olympic 100m champion (and 2004 bronze medallist) Maurice Greene (9.87), Leonard Scott (9.94), and 2004 200m Olympic champion Shaun Crawford (9.98) - plus such other stars as this year's NCAA 100 champion, Walter Dix; and last year's NCAA 100 champion Tyson Gay; and John Capel and Mark Jelks, who earlier this year ran 1-2 in beating Greene.

Four of the above are IAAF World Ranked in the top-10 for 100m - Greene (3), Gatlin (4), Crawford (6), Scott (7).

The odds are pretty good that the Helsinki trio will come from those mentioned - but it's also possible that someone may come out of the woodwork and capture one of those three spots.

The 200m is almost as dizzying - with the principal players being Crawford (19.79), Wallace Spearmon (19.91), Gay (19.93), Gatlin (20.00), Bernard Williams (20.01), and Xavier Carter (20.02).

10 sub-45 men in 400m field

And perhaps tougher than either of these is the men's 400m - with fully nine men who have registered times in the 44s - headed by former Baylor University teammates and Olympic gold medalists Jeremy Wariner and Darold Williamson; the latter won the NCAA 400 two weeks ago and ran 44.27 in the semis. If Athens silver medalist Otis Harris decides to run (he is entered but not declared), that would make it 10 sub-45 men in the field.

And if he wanted to, Kerron Clement could make it 11. But even though he set a World Indoor record of 44.57* for 400m this winter, Clement will run here only in his favourite event, the 400 Hurdles. Clement's sheer speed makes him the man to beat, but if you look at the PBs of the top four seeds - Clement, 47.56; James Carter, 47.57; Bershawn Jackson, 47.62; Benny Brazell, 47.66 - somebody who is capable of winning the gold medal in Helsinki won't be in Helsinki.

Five over 21m this season

To switch to the field events, the same thing is true in the men's Shot Put. John Godina leads the list with a stunning 22.20, but there are four others over 21 metres this year -- Christian Cantwell (21.67), Adam Nelson (21.58), Reese Hoffa (21.29), and a newcomer to the elite group, Jamie Beyer (21.13 ).

Some other standouts should be Olympic Long Jump champion Dwight Phillips, who will also try to grab a spot in the 100 metress; Pole vaulters Tim Mack and Toby Stevenson, who'll be fighting off several young challengers; Alan Webb, who comes into the 1500m just 3 weeks after his American record Two-Miles in 8:11.48.

Going into the meet, the weakest U.S. events look to be the race walks, the Hammer and Discus throws, and the middle distances; but even there, the U.S. men will have one or two competitive individuals at the world level, but lack the depth to dominate.

But at one lap or less, the men's side of the meet should be exceptional.