EUGENE, Ore. — As the dust cleared at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials last month, athletes who advanced through the trying qualifications turned their focus toward the Rio Games.
The times and performances put forward in advance of the trials already had placed the USA as the country to beat on the Rio medal table. The number of 2016 world-best times set during competition — nine, including in the men’s 100 meters and the men’s and women’s 400 — simply underline that point: The U.S. team is ready for August.
Beyond a sizable medal haul, what is to be expected from the U.