PHILADELPHIA — With the London Olympics starting in three months, new USA Track & Field CEO Max Siegel is standing by the lofty goal of 30 medals, which would be a post-Soviet record. Today’s USA vs. the World races at the Penn Relays (1 p.m., NBC) will be a great benchmark as to just how close they truly are.
The USA vs. the World has served as an accurate barometer for Olympic success. Of the dozen winners in the men’s and women’s 4×100 and 4×400 preceding the last three Olympics, eight went on to earn gold. That bodes well for today’s Franklin Field victors when the London Games open July 27.
“This is like our NBA all-star weekend, to get all these Olympic gold medalist and World Championship medalists together, working as teammates, not competitors. That’s a good thing to have some fun midseason and get ready for the war,’’ said Brooklyn-born Justin Gatlin, who’s had to fight just to get back to this point.
After a failed drug test in 2006, he accepted an eight-year ban that eventually got reduced to four. He made his return in 2010 and — after switching to coach Dennis Mitchell and focusing on his start — won the world indoor 60-meter title this winter. He joins Walter Dix on a 4×100 anxious to make a statement vs. a Jamaica squad that’s minus Usain Bolt but still is the reigning world and Olympic winner.
“This is the only time you get to see all these 4x100s and 4x400s. They’re definitely the most anticipated races of the Olympics. [Today] gives the fans a taste of something they want to see,’’ said Dix, the current world silver medalist at 100 and 200, who already has won a windy 9.85. “That [30-medal] goal is definitely realistic for us. We can achieve it. We have the talent. We develop some of the best athletes in track & field, and it will show.’’
Ex-USATF CEO Doug Logan set out that 30-medal goal after Beijing, which be a modern record. While the U.S. piled up 68 back in 1904, this is a completely different era. Their 40 in 1984 came amidst a Soviet boycott, and their 30 in 1992 was artificially inflated with the bloc falling apart and the Russian system a mess.
Today, Olympic champ Lashawn Merritt and intermediate hurdler Bershawn Jackson lead the 4×400 against Jamaica and Grenada (with world 400 champ Kirani James), while Millrose mile legend Bernard Lagat — fresh off his indoor world 3,000 win — will anchor the distance medley.
On the women’s side of gold-medal glitterati, 100 world champ Carmelita Jeter, three-time world 200 champ Allyson Felix and world indoor 400 champ Sanya Richards-Ross — the latter married to Aaron Ross, who win two Super Bowls with the Giants — will lead the women’s 4×100 and 4×400.
After a disappointing 2010 and 2011, Richards-Ross won the world 400 crown this winter, then blistered a 50.18 earlier this month for her fastest outdoor opener ever. And she says it’s more about an attitude adjustment than any training change.
“Coach [Clyde] Hart is kind of set in his guns. When you’re 76, you don’t change much. It’s just intensity. I really rededicated myself to my sport and wanted to get back to where I was. I don’t think coach Hart has changed; I think I’ve changed,’’ said Richards-Ross, who was born in Jamaica and has a unique perspective on being in the middle of the rivalry between the two preeminent sprint powers.
“Especially in an Olympic year, where people are anticipating the rivalry between the U.S. and Jamaica, it’s an exciting opportunity to compete. It’s the official start to the season. It’s a healthy rivalry. It’s inspired us to give our best.’’
That rivalry has tilted more toward Jamaica of late, thanks to botched baton exchanges on the U.S. end and rising stars like Bolt and Yohan Blake on the Jamaican end. And while today serves as a great benchmark for London, Richards-Ross has a theory as to how her birth nation has risen to rival if not surpass her home country.
“When I grew up there, we started training at 7 years old. I’m not talking about, ‘You got last, good job!’ I mean get to the line first,’’ said Richards-Ross. “We trained on our form, we took is seriously. The kids here start later. We developed great foundation in track and field.
“That’s why per capita Jamaica turns out so many great sprinters: It’s the intensity at a young age. I was doing block starts at 7. That might be a difference. I was blessed because I had that and then came to the U.S. and had great college coaches.’’
brian.lewis@nypost.com