Team USA send out warning ahead of Tokyo after statement performances at Olympic trials

The Stars and Stripes can boast a formidable squad for Tokyo, as Jack Rathborn reacts to an explosive start to the United States’ Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon

Trayvon Bromell, Ronnie Baker and Fred Kerley cross the finish line to secure a place at the Tokyo Olympics (Getty)

One of the great sporting spectacles is currently unfolding at the brand spanking new Hayward Field in Eugene.

Take note of the iconic home of American athletics as we’ll be back in this track-crazy Oregon town next year for the World Championships.

But for now there is high drama at the United States’ Olympic Team Trials in a rare glimpse of sport without a filter.

Equal amounts of elation and agony are sprinkled over each day as hopes and dreams become reality for the select few, while offering a glimpse of the main event to come next month in Tokyo.

There was a stark contrast between Woody Kincaid’s explosive kick to close in a remarkable 53 seconds to punch a ticket to Tokyo in the 10,000m and Jaylen Slade’s nasty fall in the men’s 100m heats.

Speaking of which, the US can boast enviable depth over the shorter distances, notably in the men’s 100m, despite the conspicuous absence of 2019 world champion Christian Coleman after his “simply impossible” explanation for one of three missed drugs tests, which led to a two-year ban.

Team USA will not miss Coleman though, with the successor to Usain Bolt’s Olympic gold in Rio fast emerging in the shape of Trayvon Bromell, who powered to victory in Sunday night’s final in 9.80.

It’s been an arduous journey back from injury for Bromell since bursting onto the scene to snatch bronze as a 20-year-old at the 2015 Worlds in Beijing, but the 25-year-old now leads a menacing trio on the way to Tokyo.

A ‘B’ team of those who missed out could even provide stiff competition for Team USA, including 200m world champion Noah Lyles, who may yet book his ticket to Tokyo on the 200m squad, and serial Diamond League winner Kenny Bednarek, who was edged out of the top three despite running 9.89.

Joining Bromell then will be Ronnie Baker (9.85) and Fred Kerley (9.86), the latter of which made the remarkable move just weeks ago to scratch from the 400m, where he would surely have contended for a medal in Tokyo. Instead Kerley rolled the dice, perhaps chasing the greater riches and fame associated with the 100m, and the 26-year-old’s move was validated, with the prospect of also featuring as part of the 200m squad - which could prove a sweet spot given his 400m strength.

There is new blood in American track, though Allyson Felix endures, with the 35-year-old clinching a fifth Games by taking second (50.02) behind Quanera Hayes (49.78) in the 400m final.

It completes an inspirational comeback to the sport after life-threatening complications following the birth of her daughter Camryn, with the veteran track queen destined to light up the Games once more.

Sha’Carri Richardson reacts after a dominant display in the women’s 100m (Getty)

And the American talent is not strictly tied to the track either, as Ryan Crouser demonstrated with his men’s shot put world record on Saturday, letting out an almighty roar on the way to 23.37m.

But perhaps the one event that will shoot a bolt of adrenaline throughout the athletics world is the women’s 100m and one of the sport’s newest stars: Sha’Carri Richardson.

With her orange hair and long nails, Richardson, 21, has taken the sport by storm and revelled in the spotlight at Hayward Field.

In the semi-finals there was the showmanship to point to the clock with several meters to go to finish in 10.64 before returning to blow away the competition in the final with a run of 10.86.

It could emerge as the Games’ most engrossing event, with Richardson joined by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, fresh from running the second fastest 100m (10.63) of all time two weeks ago, Blessing Okagbare, who matched Fraser-Pryce in wind-aided conditions in Lagos last week, Great Britain’s 200m world champion Dina Asher-Smith and defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson.

For now though it is Team USA with a firm warning to the rest of the competition around the world that they remain a formidable sprinting nation.