Wariner shakes off loss, eyes world mark and Beijing gold

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

EUGENE, Oregon (AFP) — Reigning world and Olympic 400-meter champion Jeremy Wariner enters the US Olympic Track and Field Trials focused on Beijing gold and aiming at a world record despite an upset loss four weeks ago.

Wariner, who owns the fastest time in the world this year with a victory at Oslo in 43.98 seconds, seeks a Beijing Olympic berth in Thursday's 400 final after opening his quest in Sunday's quarter-final ahead of Monday's semi-final.

"The thing that's driving me is that I want to defend my title at the Olympics," Wariner said Saturday. "But also in my mind is the world record."

That target is two-time Olympic 400m champion Michael Johnson's 43.18 run at Seville in 1999. Wariner, 24, ran his personal best of 43.45, the third-fastest run in...