EUGENE, United States (AFP) — Veterans Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will lead a strong US sprint contingent to the World Championships aiming to wrest the coveted 100m crown from Jamaica’s grasp.

The once-dominant Americans haven’t won a global 100m title since 2007 — when Gay won both the 100m and 200m world titles.

But the speed on display at the US athletics championships that concluded on Sunday boded well for the Americans’ prospects of toppling Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt, who has won all but one world or Olympic 100m gold since 2007 — the only exception his Jamaican compatriot Yohan Blake’s 100m world crown in 2011.

“I think a lot of (American) sprinters are waking up and understanding that it’s time to fight back,” said Gatlin, who has a bye into the World Championships 100m as the 2014 Diamond League winner.

He focused on the 200m at the US trials, delivering three sub-20 second performances capped by a blistering 19.57 seconds in the final.

His training partner Isiah Young was second in 19.93, with veteran Wallace Spearmon third in 20.10.

The 33-year-old Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, became the fifth-fastest man ever at the distance, and he holds the top time in the world this year in the 100m as well, with a 9.74sec.

The 100m once again showed America’s depth of talent. The event produced a dozen sub-10 second performances — albeit some of them wind-aided.

Gay, 32 and trying to regain the sports summit after a one-year drugs ban, won the final in 9.87sec, edging 19-year-old rising talent Trayvon Bromell, who finished second in 9.96.

Mike Rodgers was third in 9.97 to grab the final berth on offer for Beijing.

“It’s time to go out there and work hard and bear that American flag with honour,” Gatlin said.

Former British sprinter John Regis predicted that not only is a world title possible for Gatlin, but that he could even eclipse Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58.

“I have a lot of respect for John given the times he’s run back in his day. So I hope to live up to what he says and I’m very honoured,” Gatlin said.

Further fuelling predictions of the re-emergence of the US men sprinters is the slow start for Bolt this season.

He has yet to break 10 seconds in a 100m in 2015 or 20 seconds in the 200m.

Gatlin and Gay, however, are convinced Bolt will be at his best when it matters, August 22-30 in Beijing.

“You never know until you cross the finish line,” Gatlin said. “I think everybody’s going to be ready and prepared.”

Gay said the best approach was to prepare to face Bolt at his best.

“Right now, I’m not paying attention to Usain Bolt,” Gay said. “He’s a championship performer. He’ll be ready when it counts.”