Brown fastest as Wariner and Merritt take it easy

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Christopher Brown of the Bahamas registered the fastest time in the first round heats of the 400 metres here on Monday as favourite Jeremy Wariner and chief rival LaShawn Merritt both strolled through.

Brown, twice just ouside the medals in world championship finals, timed 44.79 seconds in the second heat to set down a marker for the rest of the contenders.

Merritt was easy as it goes in his heat as he settled in the inside lane and cruised round at half pace all but walking over the line in 44.96sec.

The early action saw one high profile casualty though in Grenada's Alleyne Francique as the 32-year-old two-time world indoor champion and fourth in the 2004 Olympic final bowed out.

Wariner, who saw his nine race unbeaten streak ended...