After blowing the competition out of the Water Cube, the US has faltered at the Bird’s Nest. Next to swimming, track and field has yielded the most gold medals for US athletes. However, this year things got off to a rocky start. Walter Dix was able to earn a bronze in the men’s 100-meter dash, but despite three entrants in the women’s final, the US came away empty handed. 400-meter favorite Sanya Richards faded to third after she didn’t have enough left for the home stretch. In the 100-meter hurdles, favorite Lolo Jones of the US tripped over a hurdle and fell out of the medals. However, Dawn Harper saved that one for the US, turning what would have been a second place finish into a gold medal.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was Bernard Lagat. The 2004 gold medalist in the 1,500 meters failed to even qualify for the final this time around. It appeared that Lagat was trying to save some energy for the next race, but, in doing so, he did not assure himself a place in the final.

The biggest US success was a 1-2-3 finish in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. Angelo Taylor took the top spot on the podium.

Things may get better for the US. The men’s and women’s 200-meters offer a chance to go up against the Jamaican team that dominated them in the 100-meters. Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt are set for a US 1-2 finish in the men’s 400-meters. The main question: who will be one and who will be two?

Bernard Lagat will get another chance at gold in the men’s 5,000-meters. Some people think that he was saving himself for the 5,000-meters when he failed to qualify for the 1,500 final.

And then there are the relays, with the US coming up against Jamaica and Great Britain.