In the men's 60m field at the 2018 USATF Indoor Championships, there's Christian Coleman, and then there's everyone else.

The same can be said about the rest of the world, too.

Coleman smashed Maurice Greene's 6.39-second 60m world record—and, in turn, his former PR of 6.45—in his 2018 season opener at the Clemson Invitational on Jan. 19 by crossing the line in 6.37. Although that time reportedly won't be ratified as an official world record due to the absence of electronic starting blocks, that hasn't slowed down the Nike sprinter's season. He returned to the track at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix, where he won handily in 6.46. So the question isn't as much a question of if the 2017 IAAF World 100m silver medalist will make the team, but which of his countrymen will join him in the middle of the track in Birmingham.

As the only other U.S. man to crack 6.50 in the 60m this season, Ronnie Baker could fit that bill. Backed by his Armory record of 6.48, which he set in his season opener at the 2018 NYRR Millrose Games, Baker is the third-fastest man over 60 meters this year. The former TCU Horned Frog has run 20 sub-6.60-second 60m dashes over the course of his career, and owns a PR of 6.45.

Hear from Baker after he won the 2018 NYRR Millrose Games 60m in 6.48:

Although it'll be interesting to see how stalwarts like Mike Rodgers, 2010's world 60m runner-up, and upstarts like Noah Lyles, 2017's Diamond League 200m champion, fare against the tight competition, I feel confident we'll see Coleman atop the podium and Baker round out the rest of Team USA.

Final: Sunday, Feb. 18, 4:52 PM MT
Prediction: 1. Christian Coleman, 2. Ronnie Baker

We caught up with Coleman after he ran 6.37 at the Clemson Invitational in January:

Men's 60m Entries As Of 2/15/2018

Men's 60m Hurdles

In addition to Keni Harrison, the U.S. boasts another world record-holding hurdler taking aim at a world-team berth: Aries Merritt. The 32-year-old, who set that historic 12.80 en route to winning the 110m hurdles at the 2012 Olympic Games, faced a number of setbacks between then and now, including a kidney transplant in 2015. But you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at his performances from the past year. Merritt finished fifth at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships as the lone American in the 110m hurdles final and took third at last year's USATF Indoors in 7.60. This season at the NYRR Millrose Games, he ran within a tenth of his PR of 7.43, which he set the year he won gold in London. In January, Merritt said he feels the best he has in five years, and it certainly shows.

His younger rival, Devon Allen, 23, faced similar challenges in the past couple of years. The dual-athlete tore his left and right ACLs on separate occasions while playing football for the Oregon Ducks in 2015 and 2016. After his first tear, he won the NCAA 60m hurdles, 110m hurdles and the U.S. Olympic Trials before finishing fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. After his second tear, he decided to go pro with Nike, and went on to enjoy a successful 2017 season on the world team, but fell short of joining Merritt in the final.

Two weeks ago, Allen edged out Aries Merritt 7.50 to 7.53 at the NYRR Millrose Games for the win, but he required a PR to do it. Jarret Eaton, who finished fourth at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships and set a PR of 7.47 in January, should also be up front with Allen and Merritt this weekend to apply pressure. But the Syracuse alum hasn't gotten within shouting distance of that mark since then-in the past two weeks, Eaton has run 7.70, 7.54, 7.70 and 7.62, in that order. That's why I have to hand the world team spots to Devon and Merritt.

Final: Sunday, Feb. 18, 4:33 PM MT
Prediction: 1. Devon Allen, 2. Aries Merritt

Watch our interview with Allen after winning the 60m hurdles at the 2018 NYRR Millrose Games:

Men's 60m Hurdles Entries As Of 2/15/2018