SYDNEY – Neither Charles Austin nor Allen Johnson has an “M” in his name. Which means they could languish in the witness protection program of American track and field despite a golden background.

This is the Three-M Olympics of Marion, Michael and Maurice. From the outset of the track-and-field portion of the Games, which begins tomorrow, it will be easy to conceive that no one else exists.

On Day 1, Marion Jones will run two rounds of 100-meter qualifying, initiating her well-publicized quest for five gold medals. Maurice Greene will run the first two heats of the 100 in his pursuit of proving he is the fastest man alive four years after sitting in the stands at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta and crying as Canada’s Donovan Bailey won the race. And Michael Johnson will run the first round of the 400, attempting to become the first man to ever repeat as Olympic champ at that distance while galvanizing his status among the greatest runner ever.

Compelling stories all. But not the only stories for Americans competing at the 110,000-seat Olympic Stadium.

With Greene and Johnson having flamed out in injuries at the U.S. trials at 200 meters, it will be up to former Florida Gator receiver John Capel or veteran Floyd Heard to vanquish Greene’s training partner, Ato Boldon of Trinidad at the distance. The U.S. has won the 400 hurdles in four straight Olympics and Angelo Taylor and Eric Thomas are strong contenders to make it five.

With Jones’ husband and world champ, C.J. Hunter, having to withdraw due to a knee injury, Adam Nelson will be the favorite in the shotput. With Regina Jacobs having to withdraw from the 1,500 due to a viral infection, Suzy Favor Hamilton could be all that stands between Romania’s Gabriela Szabo and gold. Gail Devers, who surprisingly won the 100 at the past two Olympics while faltering in her 100 hurdles specialty, gets her chance at the hurdles in Sydney. Stacy Dragila in the pole vault and Dawn Ellerbe in the hammer throw have a chance to make their marks in new Olympic events.

And then there are Austin and Johnson, who possess stellar careers, Atlanta gold and extremely low profiles.

“I have come from a little town in Texas, so what I have received is all astonishing to me,” Austin said.

Johnson said that he did not want just attention because, he noted, many people in modern society get attention for doing the outrageous or the criminal. “I would want it, but only if it is associated with my achievement,” he explained.

Austin, named the captain of this U.S. Olympic track and field squad, has won the last six American championships. He dramatically captured gold in Atlanta with an Olympic record 7-10 on his final jump of the competition. Russia’s Vyacheslav Voronin will enter as the favorite. But after controversially being allowed into these Games following a cocaine-related suspension, Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor looms as the great unknown. High-jump qualifying is tomorrow with the final Sunday.