Their sprinting pride severely dented by Jamaica's awesome performance at the Beijing Olympics a year ago, United States' track officials are eager to restore honour this summer and the superb Tyson Gay heads their roster for the IAAF World Championship in Berlin this month.

Gay, the reigning sprint double champion, is among eight title-holders announced Tuesday on the US squad for the August 15-23 World Championship.

In Beijing, Gay - below peak form coming off an injury - failed to win a medal while the Jamaicans, majestically led by Usain Bolt, swept every sprint gold medal on offer in the Birds Nest, with the exception of the women's sprint relay which Russia won.

First return to berlin

Other American gold medallists from the Osaka 2007 World Championship returning for glory in Berlin are Bernard Lagat, Allyson Felix, Jeremy Wariner, Kerron Clement, Michelle Perry, Reese Hoffa and Brad Walker.

This will be the first time Team USA will be returning to Berlin for a major international championship since the 1936 Olympic Games, where National Track and Field Hall of Famer Jesse Owens won gold medals in the 100 metres, 200m, 4x100-metre relay and long jump.

"These World Championships are special to us for many reasons," said USATF CEO Doug Logan.

"It is Team USA's chance to come back strong in the post-Olympic year, and it is an opportunity to honour the incredible legacy of the great Jesse Owens. We feel our team roster will represent the United States well on both counts," Logan added.

Bid to defend world titles

In Beijing last year, Bolt sensationally won the men's sprint double in world record times and linked up with his teammates for a world-record win in the men's sprint relay.

Shelly-Ann Fraser, in the 100 metres, and Veronica Campbell-Brown, repeating as 200-metre champion, also swept the women's sprint gold medals for Jamaica.

Gay will be bidding to defend his world 100 and 200-metre titles from the 2007 Championships when he won the 100m gold medal in 9.85 seconds and captured the world crown in the 200 by running 19.76.

In spite of Bolt's label as favourite for Berlin, Gay is the current world-leader in both events — 9.77 seconds with his 100-metre win in Rome on July 10, and his 19.58 clocking in the 200 at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York on May 30, which is the third-fastest 200 in history.