Merritt stuns Wariner to lead US 400m Olympic medal sweep

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — LaShawn Merritt ran the race of his life when it mattered most to defeat defending Olympic and two-time world champion Jeremy Wariner in a 400-meter final showdown Thursday that ended with a US sweep.

Merritt, the 2007 world runner-up to Wariner, won in 43.75 seconds, a lifetime best that only four runners in history have ever bettered. Wariner was a stunned second in 44.74 with David Neville completing the US haul in 44.80.

The best prior time for Merritt was 43.96 from his loss to Wariner in last year's worlds.

Merritt was third coming off the turn behind Neville in the outside lane and Wariner, who moved into the lead as he reached the straightaway for home.

But Merritt then surged past Wariner into the lead and stretched the gap...