(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-08-14 09:57

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Olympic and world 400 metres champion Jeremy Wariner and American sprint king Tyson Gay spearhead a strong U.S. team named on Monday for this month's athletics world championships.

Jeremy Wariner of the U.S. prepares for the men's 400 metres race during the London Grand Prix athletics meet at the Crystal Palace Park in London August 3, 2007. Wariner and American sprint king Tyson Gay spearhead a strong U.S. team named on Monday for this month's athletics world championships. [AP]

Ten world champions, also including Olympic and world long jump gold medallist Dwight Phillips, will make the U.S. one of the most powerful teams in the August 25-September 2 championships in Osaka, Japan.

Overall, 14 Olympic and 22 world outdoor championship medallists will represent the U.S.

The sprints again will be the Americans' forte with Gay seeking double gold in the men's 100 and 200 metres and Wariner going for a repeat in the 400 metres.

The women will be equally powerful in the short races with world champions Lauryn Williams (100 metres), Allyson Felix (200) and Michelle Perry (100 hurdles).

World champions Bershawn Jackson (400 metres hurdles), Walter Davis (triple jump), Adam Nelson (shot put), Bryan Clay (decathlon) and Tianna Madison (women's long jump) also return.

U.S. team members hold 11 top world performances for 2007, including Gay, who has run 9.84 seconds in the 100 and 19.62 seconds in the 200, and Wariner, who clocked 43.50 seconds in the 400 at Stockholm.

Despite Gay's presence, depth could be a problem for the Americans in the 100 metres.

Reigning 100 and 200 champion Justin Gatlin is awaiting results of an arbitration hearing on his positive doping test and will miss the championships.

The second and third finishers in the U.S. trials, Trindon Holliday and collegiate sprint champion Walter Dix, both declined spots on the team. They will be replaced by Mark Jelks and collegian J-Mee Samuels, who placed fourth and fifth in the trials.

Other U.S. world leaders for 2007 include 1,500 metres runner Alan Webb, 400 metres hurdler James Carter, pole vaulter Brad Walker, shot putter Reese Hoffa, javelin thrower Breaux Greer, 200 metres sprinter Felix, 400 metres runner Sanya Richards, who made the team in the 200, hurdler Perry and 400 metres hurdler Tiffany Williams.