The talent pool won't be what it could have been, because the lure of landing a big endorsement deal from a Nike or an adidas, plus training and competing on your own schedule, makes for a tempting combination.

Felix, the Olympic silver medalist in the 200 meters, didn't even make it to her first college season. The 19-year-old is enrolled at USC - adidas pays for her education - but never competed for the Trojans because she turned pro before her freshman year.

"It's an individual decision that everyone has to make," said Felix, who signed a six-year deal with adidas reportedly worth more than $1 million. "But I mean you definitely see there's a void in the college scene.

"I love to watch college track and everything. ... You just have to do what's best for you."

Ron Allice, USC's director of track and field, said he cried about Felix's decision. But he won't say it was a bad choice.

"As long as we're in a free-enterprise system, things are going to happen," he said. "You can't prevent somebody from trying to make a living.

"Did she make the right decision? Yes, it's fun to be a part of a team and all those things, be a part of the college experience. There's some things she missed. She would have loved it.

"With the drug busts, the vacuum being created by big-name people either suspect or no longer in the picture, here is a girl who is marketable, who is articulate, who is talented, who is going to go right into that void."

Wariner, 21, left after two seasons at Baylor, signing a five-year deal with adidas after the Olympics. He earned the NCAA indoor and outdoor 400 titles last year, then won the Olympic Trials before blazing to a personal-best 44 seconds to win the gold.

He still trains under Baylor coach Clyde Hart in Waco, Texas. But Wariner is free from NCAA restrictions that limit practice time. And he can run in any meet he wants.

"We sat down and talked, and we both agreed I'd done everything a collegiate athlete could do," Wariner said. "The only way for me to get better was to turn professional."

Webb, 22, a former high school middle-distance phenom in Virginia, ran one year for the University of Michigan, then turned pro in June 2002, returning to train under former prep coach Scott Raczko.

Merritt, 18, left East Carolina before finishing his first indoor season, signing with Nike after running a 44.93 indoor 400 in Fayetteville, Ark., but a week before the NCAA Indoor Championships. His 44.66 effort Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica, is the fastest time in the world this year.

Kerron Clement, 19, then filled that void, breaking Michael Johnson's world indoor 400 record with a 44.57 effort at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville. But he plans to turn pro after the NCAA meet here.

"I'll be out in June," said Clement, who prefers the 400 hurdles to the 400.

Chock, a former Granite Bay High School distance standout, enrolled at the University of Richmond but left after one month last fall, eventually moving to the Portland, Ore., area to train under distance guru Alberto Salazar.

Most college coaches contacted see the recent rash of early departures as a double-edged sword.

"They go to college to get a degree to earn money," said Texas women's coach Beverly Kearney, who lost Richards, an NCAA 400 champion, to the pro ranks two years early last summer. "If they have an opportunity to earn, an unbelievable opportunity to earn money, do that and gradually get your degree.

"The only time I think it's detrimental is if somebody moves away not mentally prepared to handle it."

Tennessee men's coach Bill Webb, who lost Olympic 100 gold medalist Justin Gatlin to the pro ranks two years early after the 2002 season, said the NCAA setup pushes top athletes toward an early departure.

In college, athletes try to peak for their conference meet, then must gear up again for regional qualifying, the NCAA

Championships, the USA Outdoor

Championships and then possibly the World Outdoor Championships.

"We're killing the goose that laid the golden egg," Webb said. "I've been anti-

regional since Day One. If you're in the SEC, it's a war.

"Take Clement. If he's going to run a second individual event, trials and finals, conference and regionals, then NCAAs, then nationals, then World, it's too much running."

Air Force coach Ralph Lindeman said there's a positive side to college stars leaving early.

"If anything, it's drawn attention to college track," he said. "We're so news-starved as it is. When a LaShawn Merritt turns pro, it gives some attention to East Carolina and the program he came from.

"It's real good for our development of kids who are potential Olympians. ... Those athletes capable of turning pro and capable of making substantial income, I say, Go for it."

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo high jumper Sharon Day said early departures have hurt the sport.

"It does take away from us having those really standout people and everything," she said. "But for some people, like for Allyson Felix, her situation is, I think, the best you could have because she's getting her school paid for and everything."

Chaunte Howard, the Olympic high jumper from Georgia Tech, said recent defections have motivated others to reach their potential.

"There's still a lot of depth and talent," she said. "You can look at Kerron Clement and (Arkansas sprinter) Wallace Spearmon. They're still in college. There's a lot of people.

"It actually inspires the other ones who actually want to go pro and take track to the next level."

Stanford triple jumper Erica McLain, a freshman, said she's pondering turning pro next year while remaining in school.

"Track, to me, is one of those sports I can go pro and still stay in school," she said. "It's possible."

NCAA Div. I Outdoor Track and Field

Championships

Who: More than 1,000 athletes.

When: June 8-11.

Where: Hornet Stadium, Sacramento State.

Tickets: Four-day passes cost $25 to $55 and are available through http://www.tickets.com/, http://www.sacsports.com/ or by calling (916) 566-6560.

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The Bee's John Schumacher can be reached at (916) 326-5523 or jschumacher @sacbee.com.

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