EUGENE, Oregon (AP):

For weeks, sprinter Allyson Felix has been toting around a set of starting blocks just like the kind used at the United States Olympic trials. When you're hoping to win four medals at the Beijing Games, every detail matters.

Eager to improve the way she gets going in the 100 metres, Felix took up coach Bob Kersee's suggestion to get accustomed to the blocks she'll be lining up in at Hayward Field during the trials that begun yesterday.

"Whatever little edge I can get," Felix said, "I'm going to take it."

Tough field

She had to deal with what was considered a tough field in the women's 100 heats, expected to be the highlight of Day 1. Among Felix's competition: 2004 Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams, Torri Edwards, Muna Lee, Carmelita Jeter and Angela Williams.

"It's anybody's game," said Williams, the 2005 world champion at the distance. "Saturday night will be the final. If you run it again on Sunday, you might have a whole different three people."

Felix will be racing in the 100 and the 200 in Eugene. She also wants to make the US roster in the 400 and 1,600 relays.

"No doubt, it's tough," Felix said. "At the beginning of the year, we looked at it and really gave it a realistic look and thought, 'Is this really possible? Is this something that we wanted to do?' And Bobby said he could get me ready."

Other hopefuls

Among the other athletes who'll draw attention over the next 10 days are Tyson Gay (100 and 200 world champion), Sanya Richards (Olympic relay gold medalist) and Jeremy Wariner (Olympic and world champion in the 400).

"I feel like I'm really where I need to be. I'm not at my peak. I feel like that's going to come in Beijing," Felix said. "But I feel like I'm at the point where I'm able to make the team, hopefully."

Gay won't be satisfied with simply making the team, even though four years ago he was eliminated in the 100 semi-finals at the US trials.

Asked Thursday what his goals are this time around, Gay began his response by saying, "Honestly?"

He paused for a moment, then continued: "Honestly, I really want to come away with two victories, in the 100 and 200. And I want to run a fast time in the 100-metre dash, because I feel if I can run, maybe, I don't really want to throw no times out there, but honestly, if I can run 9.7 (seconds) or a (personal best) after four rounds, that will let me know what my fitness is going into Beijing."