As Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt battled off the Bowerman Curve and down the homestretch of the men’s 400m final, the strain was evident on both men’s faces.
Wariner, used to being in front with 100 meters to go, was a step down, digging to make up the deficit. Merritt, after a series of close calls in championship races, was fighting to keep the defending world and Olympic champion behind him and claim his first title.
Merritt wasn’t about to let his best chance yet slip away. He was able to hold Wariner off and win his U.S. championship by two-tenths of a second, 44.00 to 44.20. Indiana University product David Neville snuck into third.
“Once I got off the backstretch, got to the curve and got onto that homestretch I was smelling Beijing and victory,” Merritt said. “My main focus was to finish up strong. It came down to a fight and I won today.”
Wariner bemoaned the fact that he didn’t run his race as planned.
“I got to the 200-meter mark where I wanted to be at, but I just let him get away from me,” he said. “From 200-250 I just didn’t work the way I wanted to and he got a little bit away and I tried to move at the 150 mark, with 150 to go when I should have waited a little bit longer and built into it instead of forcing it.”
Merritt said today was just his day.
“At the end of the day, the best man wins and today I was that better man,” he said. “We’re taking three horses to Beijing and representing the U.S.”
The third horse, Neville, crossed the line in 44.61, beating Reggie Witherspoon, Calvin Smith, Darold Williamson, Greg Nixon and Lionel Larry for the final ticket to Beijing.
“It was just a great experience,” Neville said. “I knew that all I had to do was get out my first 50 meters and I could hold it down the backstretch, which I did in the semifinal race, but I did not get out the way I needed to in the semifinal race. I knew once I did that I had the strength to finish and go strong. I got to 300 meters and I didn’t see anybody at first until LaShawn passed me and I was surprised, but I also knew I had the strength.”
Merritt has now beaten Wariner twice this year – Thursday and June 1 in Berlin – but Wariner still feels he’s the favorite going into Beijing.
“When it comes to the Olympic Games, I’ve been there before, I know what it takes to win it,” he said. “I’ve just got to bounce back. I lost in Berlin, bounced back, ran a 43.9, so I’m gonna bounce back.”
Merritt, meanwhile, claims that title for himself.
“In my mind I’m always the favorite,” he said. “I felt like I was one spot away from being first in the world, so I’ve been training hard to be number one.”
Regardless of who wins the Olympic gold, Merritt believes the United States has a good chance to sweep the medals and take home gold in the 4x400m relay like they did in 2004.
“Me, Jeremy and Neville, we got three of the best 400m runners in the world,” he said. “We’re always looking for a sweep and victory in the 4×4.”
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