Olympic Champion Lashawn Merritt of the USA wins his heat of the 400m at the IAAF World Championships (© Getty Images)
The eagerly anticipated road towards the first meeting of the year between LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner finally began today.
Merritt, the reigning Olympic champion and this year’s world leader at 44.50, began his competition with a 45.23 stroll to take the fourth of seven heats ahead of Australian John Steffensen (45.37).
“It was a great first round,” said Merritt, who finished runner-up in Osaka two years ago. “I have not been running too good this season because the agenda was not there, no pressure.”
Conventional wisdom dictates that any pressure Merritt may need will come from Jeremy Wariner, who’s chasing a third straight World title this week. The Texan cruised through to the next round with a 45.54 win in Heat Six, ahead of Jamaican Ricardo Chambers (45.57).
The quickest time of the morning was turned in by Bahamian Ramon Miller, who took the fifth heat in 45.00, a big personal best for the 22-year-old Olympic relay silver medallist. Miller’s previous best was 45.35 with his runner-up at this year’s Bahamian championships. Frenchman Leslie Djhone was next, kicking out the morning rust with a 45.20 run. Swede Johan Wissman (45.83) took the heat’s third automatic qualifying spot.
With the first three and the next three fastest moving on to tomorrow evening’s semis, no big surprises emerged. Other heat winners included Briton Robert Tobin (45.50) over Irishman David Gillick (45.54) in the first heat and Trinidad’s Renny Quow (45.21) over Cuban William Collazo (45.52) and Belgian Kevin Borlee (45.61) in the second. Perennial podium threat Chris Brown of the Bahamas won the third heat in 45.53 and Tabarie Henry of the US Virgin Islands won the seventh in 45.14, with Australian Sean Wroe and Briton Martyn Rooney moving on as well.
The biggest name to depart from the first round was African record holder Gary Kikaya (COD), who was disqualified for a lane violation.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Merritt, the reigning Olympic champion and this year’s world leader at 44.50, began his competition with a 45.23 stroll to take the fourth of seven heats ahead of Australian John Steffensen (45.37).
“It was a great first round,” said Merritt, who finished runner-up in Osaka two years ago. “I have not been running too good this season because the agenda was not there, no pressure.”
Conventional wisdom dictates that any pressure Merritt may need will come from Jeremy Wariner, who’s chasing a third straight World title this week. The Texan cruised through to the next round with a 45.54 win in Heat Six, ahead of Jamaican Ricardo Chambers (45.57).
The quickest time of the morning was turned in by Bahamian Ramon Miller, who took the fifth heat in 45.00, a big personal best for the 22-year-old Olympic relay silver medallist. Miller’s previous best was 45.35 with his runner-up at this year’s Bahamian championships. Frenchman Leslie Djhone was next, kicking out the morning rust with a 45.20 run. Swede Johan Wissman (45.83) took the heat’s third automatic qualifying spot.
With the first three and the next three fastest moving on to tomorrow evening’s semis, no big surprises emerged. Other heat winners included Briton Robert Tobin (45.50) over Irishman David Gillick (45.54) in the first heat and Trinidad’s Renny Quow (45.21) over Cuban William Collazo (45.52) and Belgian Kevin Borlee (45.61) in the second. Perennial podium threat Chris Brown of the Bahamas won the third heat in 45.53 and Tabarie Henry of the US Virgin Islands won the seventh in 45.14, with Australian Sean Wroe and Briton Martyn Rooney moving on as well.
The biggest name to depart from the first round was African record holder Gary Kikaya (COD), who was disqualified for a lane violation.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
