Despite recent indicators, Wariner taking nothing for granted

  Three weeks ago at Stockholm’s DN Galan, World and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner sped to a 43.50 performance to become the third fastest man ever. More recently, he produced training times faster than those of Michael Johnson in the World record holder’s lead up to his legendary 43.18 dash at the 1999 World Championships in Seville.

But the 24-year-old American is taking nothing for granted as he makes his final preparations for his title defence which begins on Tuesday (28).

“This year the competition’s even stronger than what it has been,” Wariner said. “The way Angelo [Taylor] and Lashawn Merritt have been running, I’m going to have to go out there and run my race like I did in Stockholm.”

Stockholm performance worth ’43.3’ on Osaka’s track

Taylor has clocked 44.05 this season and Merritt 44.06, more than half a second faster than any other entrants in Osaka, suggesting that a first-ever national sweep in the event is a real possibility in Osaka.

“After Stockholm, I said that if I ran that race in Osaka it would have been 43.3 at best,” he said, noting the Nagai stadium track’s fast reputation. “Knowing that I’ll have competition at the World Championships final, I know I’m going to have to run even faster than I did in Stockholm. So I’m just going to go out there and run like I have been in my last few meets and just hope for the best.”

But even his teammates are, on paper, well behind Wariner, whose next hurdle, besides a successful title defence, is Johnson’s global standard.

Faster in training than Johnson

Wariner’s in no rush to surpass Johnson’s mark, but he counts his mentor and manager as one of his biggest supporters as he edges closer to the record.

“[Johnson] knows it’s going to be broken one day, and he hopes it’s me that breaks it. He gives me tips and advice and encourages me to go out and race at every meet as if I’m going for the World record. Not to just pick one meet.”

He seems to be on schedule. At a recent workout, Wariner ran a pair of timed 350m sprints, with five minutes rest between the two. He was clocked in 40.09 and 41.60, faster, according to the training logs kept by coach Clyde Hart, than Johnson’s times for a similar workout in the lead-up to the 1999 World Championships.

“It was one of my best workouts,” Wariner confessed, “and now I’m passed that and have to get ready for my next ones.”

While the numbers are staggering, Wariner knows that World records are a little more complicated that a comparison of training logs.

“From the 200 to the 300,” Wariner analyzed, “I have to pick it up a little more. Other than that, my start has to be a little better. And to add a little more strength.”

“Going into the meet,” Wariner continued, “my goal is to defend my title as World champion, that’s the first thing. If the world record comes then that’ll be there.”