More than a few top athletes will be absent from the USATF Outdoor Championships this week in Des Moines, Reuters reported today. 

Reigning 100m world champion Justin Gatlin won't be there, and neither will Christian Coleman, the world indoor 60m champion and world record holder.

Tori Bowie, the reigning women's world champion for 100m, is also skipping out on the championship, as is Allyson Felix, the most decorated female Olympian in U.S. track and field history; Dalilah Muhammad, the reigning Olympic champion for 400m hurdles; and Brittney Reese, the eight-time global champion for long jump.

From entries on the USATF website, it appears that reigning 400m world champion Phyllis Francis will also be a no-show in Des Moines. Men's U.S. 400m defending champion Fred Kerley isn't entered, either. 

Nor is Brianna McNeal, the 2016 Olympic champion for 100m hurdles who has dominated the circuit in her first season back after a year-long suspension. No sign of 2016 U.S. 100m champ English Gardner, either.

Why?

For some, the answer is injury—both Gatlin and Coleman withdrew from Diamond League races earlier in the season, citing injury. Bowie had to be helped off the track after pulling up in the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic.

But according to Gatlin's manager, Renaldo Nehemiah, there's also "no real incentive" to compete at the U.S. Championships with no world or Olympic team on the line.

The 36-year-old Gatlin looked pretty fit in Ostrava this week, as he won the Golden Spike 100m in a season-best effort of 10.03.

Coleman is still scheduled to compete in several European meets on the IAAF Diamond League circuit—where a win does represent a significant financial incentive.

Reese, who turns 32 this year, told us during March's World Indoor Championships that there wasn't enough incentive to put stress on her body during the off year.

"I'm gonna do a couple of meets, the meets that I have to do, and after that, I'm shutting it down after USAs," she said after earning the world silver medal in the long jump in Birmingham. "I'm 31 now and in order for me to get myself ready for Qatar in 2019, I have to rest my body because I'm older now."

Since then, she changed her mind about even competing at USAs.

Of the athletes who will be in Des Moines for the USATF Championships, many are doing events other than their specialty.

Kori Carter, the reigning world champion for 400m hurdles, will compete in the 100m hurdles. Without Carter or Muhammad in the long hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin's first U.S. Championships as a professional just got a lot easier.

Christian Taylor, five-time global champion in the triple jump, is focusing on the 400m. He is declared for the triple jump but last year, basically fouled on purpose so he could get ready for a slew of meets on the European circuit. 

The men's 200m will be headlined not by reigning Diamond League champion Noah Lyles—who is running the 100m—but U.S. champ Ameer Webb vs. new pro Michael Norman, who shattered Kerley's collegiate record in the 400m at NCAAs in 43.61. Fellow former USC Trojan Rai Benjamin is also entered in the 200m after running 47.02—the second-fastest time in world history—to win NCAA 400m hurdles title. (Despite having a qualifying time, Benjamin is currently "not accepted" into the meet, possibly due to transfer of allegiance issues).

From an athlete's perspective, it makes sense.

There's no team to qualify for, and there's less pressure to perform when you're racing your second or third-best event.

But as a track fan, this year's meet is seriously lacking for depth.

See the chart below for the full list of which Team USA members from 2016 and 2017 in the sprints and hurdles are competing in their specialty event at this year's USATF Outdoor Championship.