TOKYO — As track and field unfolded at a dizzying pace this week, with fast times and a blizzard of broken world records, the United States seemed poised to present a new, youthful and charismatic gauntlet of stars to the world. At least, that is, at first.
By Wednesday afternoon Athing Mu (19 years old, 800 meters) and Sydney McLaughlin (21, 400-meter hurdles) had dominated their respective fields en route to gold medals. Meanwhile, Rai Benjamin (24, 400-meter hurdles) snagged a silver with the second-best time ever posted in his event and Gabby Thomas (24, 200 meters) won bronze in a deep and speedy final.