For USA vs. the World, a familiar cast of athletes

Like every year at the Penn Relays, stars from across the globe will descend on the track at Franklin Field for the “USA vs. the World” races this weekend.

Fresh off his 100m dash bronze medal from the London 2012 Summer Olympic games, Justin Gatlin will headline the American men’s 4x100m relay team.

The former gold medalist was a part of the team that captured first in this event at the Penn Relays a year ago.

Gatlin, along with teammates Mike Rodgers and Walter Dix, will be looking to defend his title against a variety of strong opponents.

But if the Americans are going to sweep the “USA vs. the World” events again, dealing with the Jamaican sprinters will be their toughest task.

The Jamaicans will bring over Nesta Carter, a holdover from their 2012 gold medal-winning 4x100m team.

On the women’s side of the 4x100m race, the title is the Americans’ to lose.

A quartet featuring Allyson Felix, Tianna Madison, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter took first in the event at the Relays last year. Less than four months later, the four set the world record and captured gold in London.

Injuries, however, may create an opportunity for an upset on Saturday. Because of a cramp suffered at an event last weekend, Jeter will not be participating at Franklin Field. Jamaica is a sure bet to be in contention on Saturday. The squad brings three members of their silver medal Olympic team with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart scheduled to participate.

In the 4x400m event, the Americans remain the favorites on the women’s side. 2012 Olympic gold medalists Sanya Richards-Ross, Allyson Felix and Francena McCorory make their return to the Penn Relays, where they took first by over five seconds a year ago.

Assuming the Americans dominate again, teams from Russia, Jamaica and Great Britain will battle for second.

Another big threat to a United States repeat sweep is the men’s Bahamian team of Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller that won the 4x400m gold in London.

If the Americans can sweep the “USA vs. The World” events for the second consecutive year, they will have to rely on a lot of stars to deliver big-name performances on Saturday.