US Olympic Track Team 2012: 6 Polarizing US Track Athletes You Must Watch

The track and field portion of the Olympics kicked off on Friday, and that can mean only one thing for the U.S.—the overall medal count is about to get a lot higher.

The U.S. has long dominated track and field at the Olympics, having won 730 total medals (310 gold). The next closest country is the former Soviet Union with 189.

Needless to say, the U.S. has dominated in track and field since the modern Olympics began back in 1896.

With those numbers expected to increase even more in London, which athletes are going to shine?

Here's a look at my top six athletes that are a must-see.

Note: For the complete schedule go to the NBC Olympics schedule page.

6. Sanya Richards-Ross

Events: 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 4x400-meter relay

Richards-Ross is one of the best female track athletes in the world.

She's the gold-medal favorite in the 400 and favored to win a medal in the 200 as well. The relay is a no-brainer, as the U.S. has won every 4x400 Olympic gold since 1996.

If you watched the U.S. Olympic trials, you saw how easily Richards-Ross won the 400.

The 200 will be interesting, but I think a U.S. teammate of hers is more of the favorite.

5. Allyson Felix

Events: 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay

Felix is a favorite to win three Olympic medals, something that no woman has done since Florence Griffith-Joyner did it in the 1988 Olympics.

She is on top of the world right now and competing at a high level.

Although she didn't qualify with the top time in the 100, you shouldn't worry about her.

She'll be better in the semifinals and run away from the field in the finals.

T3: Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin

Events: 100-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay

I put Gay and Gatlin tied for third because they will be trying to unseat Usain Bolt and Jamaica in two events.

The 100 is where Bolt and Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake are expected to dominate, while the relay is expected to see the same.

But Gay and Gatlin feel like they have something to prove.

Gay wants to show that he is still a force to be reckoned with on the world's track stage, while Gatlin is coming back from a four-year ban for using a banned substance.

While neither is expected to win gold, they're still going to give it a heck of a try.

And, if one of them somehow does pull the upset in the 100, or they both help pull the upset in the relay, how great of a story would that be?

2. Lolo Jones

Event: 100-meter hurdles

We've all heard the story about Jones.

We know she went into the 2008 Olympics as the favorite in the 100-meter hurdles and then hit the ninth hurdle in the final.

Then, there's the spinal surgery she had and the fact that she isn't even the best hurdler in the U.S. right now.

But that still doesn't take away from her star power.

From declaring that she was saving herself for marriage to her comeback in track and field, Jones has the ability to capture people's attention, no matter what she's doing.

The biggest question is how she's going to do in her only event in London.

My best guess has her finishing second or third, with a possibility of not even medaling as well. But, I also wouldn't be surprised to see her win the gold.

Jones has a lot of fight in her, and the Olympics is the one place where she can finally let it all out.

1. Ashton Eaton

Event: Decathlon

Some people may be surprised that I put Eaton up top, but after his performance in the U.S. Olympic trials, I think the whole world is going to be on edge to see if he can break the world record once again in the decathlon.

Eaton will begin with the 100-meter dash on Aug. 8 and will also compete in the long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter dash on the first day.

On the second day, the field will begin with the 110-meter hurdles, followed by the discus, javelin and pole vault, before finishing up with the 1,500-meter run.

I, for one, will be tuning in to every moment possible that Eaton competes in.

He's captured the imagination of the world, and I think he's primed to bring home a gold medal.