US track stars search for tuneups, not titles

The national championships are supposed to be the marquee event of the year for track and field, a sport always looking for a few more fans in the United States.

So, why do these national championships feel more like a preseason football game?

"My mother didn't understand why I was running one round, and she said she's not coming," said Tyson Gay, arguably the biggest track star in America these days.

Gay, who plans to skip the semis and finals of the 100 and bypass the 200 altogether, isn't the only one helping turn nationals into something less than what they could be.

Jeremy Wariner and Bernard Lagat _ maybe the next two …