Beijing: Reigning Olympic and two-time world champion Jeremy Wariner defends his 400m title against top rival LaShawn Merritt Thursday as US athletes bid to get a largely lackluster Beijing Games performance on track.
Merritt, the 2007 world runner-up to Wariner, beat his arch-rival in the US Olympic trials but lost twice to him last month in Europe, setting the stage for their most meaningful meeting yet.
"It's time to run great," Merritt said. "I can't control what anybody else is going to do. I'm just going to try the greatest race of my life. I'm going out there Thursday and run the heck out of my race."
US men have dominated the men's 400m, winning the past six gold medals in the event and 11 of the past 13.
American women sprinters will also try to mine gold, with another USA v Jamaica showdown brewing in the 200m.
Reigning world champion Allyson Felix of the United States and defending Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica led trios from their nation's into the final, giving a chance to continue a grudge match that started with Jamaica's sweep of the women's 100m medals.
In the 110m hurdles, world record-holder Dayron Robles of Cuba will go for gold in a race that was meant to showcase Athens champion Liu Xiang before home fans.
Liu's injury withdrawal on Monday shocked China, and even though the host country is firmly in control of the medals table his absence will be felt, especially after China's Shi Dongpeng was eliminated in the semi-finals.
Robles, 21, will try to emulate the feat of compatriot Anier Garcia, who won Olympic gold in Sydney.
Three more athletics golds will be on offer at the Bird's Nest, in the women's 20km walk, women's javelin and men's triple jump.
In all 23 gold medals were to be handed out as action heated up again following a day that saw medals awarded in just 11 events.
The first Olympic gold medals were set to be awarded in BMX cycling, making its debut in Beijing, but heavy early morning rain forced a postponement of competition until the afternoon with the possibility it could be held over until Friday.
BMX, an anagram for bicycle moto cross, was finally given a chance to prove its Olympic credentials in the wake of the Athens Olympics when the International Olympic Committee axed two track cycling events - the kilometer (men) and 500 meter (women) time trials.
It's adherents are eager to show the world what their sport is all about.
"This is a big opportunity to be at the Olympic Games, and now everyone gets to enjoy this crazy little sport," said France's Ann-Caroline Chausson.
China will try to make it seven-for-seven gold medals in diving when teenagers Chen Ruolin and Wang Xin lead the way in the women's 10m platform final.
Medals will also be decided in women's football, beach volleyball, waterpolo and softball, as well as in equestrian's individual show jumping, yachting's tornado and star classes, Taekwondo and wrestling.
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