Speedy Jackson predicts US sweep of 400M hurdles

"Most definitely a sweep," said the head-band wearing Jackson after his victory at the US trials in 48.03 seconds.

"We have the greatest hurdlers in the world. I don't think other countries in the world can compete with America."

The 2004 Olympic gold medallist Shawn Crawford sped to a wind-assisted 19.73 seconds in winning the men's 200, while World champion Allyson Felix claimed the women's race in 22.02 seconds to set up another US-Jamaica sprint showdown in the Berlin World Championships. "That's the fastest my body has ever moved in its lifetime," said 31-year-old Crawford, whose non-assisted best is 19.79 seconds.

Dawn Harper backed up her Beijing gold medal with a wind-assisted 12.36 seconds in the women's 100 metres hurdles, but there was disappointment in the heptathlon when Olympic silver medallist Hyleas Fountain withdrew after five events with a neck injury.

Only the top three finishers in the cut-throat trials and defending World champions
qualify for the American team for the August 15-23 Worlds.

Young collegian Johnny Dutch claimed second behind Jackson in the 400 hurdles with a lifetime best 48.18, with Olympic champion Angelo Taylor third in 48.30.

They will be joined by World champion and Olympic silver medallist Kerron Clement, who has a bye to Berlin as the defending global champion.

World 100 metres hurdles champion Michelle Perry also took advantage of a bye and did not run the final after locking arms with hard-luck Lolo Jones in the semifinals. The collision knocked Jones out of the race and the championships. Ginnie Powell and Damu Cherry will join Harper and Perry in Berlin.

Olympic silver medallist Christian Cantwell topped the men's shot put at 21.82 metres with Dan Taylor, World champion Reese Hoffa and former global winner Adam Nelson also making the team.