Victorious Again
by Eric Everett
LaShawn and archrival Jeremy Wariner faced off again Saturday in the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, and once again, Virginia's finest brought home a win.
As recounted by the Virginian-Pilot:
Merritt, a Portsmouth native, nipped Jeremy Wariner at the finish to win the 400 in 44.50, repeating his victory over his fellow American at the Beijing Olympics. Wariner finished 0.01 behind.
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| Lashawn defeats Wariner again, giving him a 4-3 edge for 2008 (Getty Images). |
Given how close the race turned out to be, it was not without drama.
In the 400, Merritt hurled himself forward at the line and fell hard on the ground, clutching his right thigh. He later said he was "all right."
Merritt said his goal for 2009 is to "start off where I left off this year."
"Another aim will be to get my time down," he said. "It is not so much about how often I beat Jeremy Wariner or not."
4-3 IN 2008
The IAAF.org summed up the rivalry between LaShawn and Wariner in 2008 in the simplest of terms. In an extensive feature, Jorg Wenig wrote:
The final score is 4:3 for LaShawn Merritt. The Olympic Champion not only beat Jeremy Wariner when it mattered most this season, but he also is one ahead at the end.
But the duel of the two great American 400m runners was a very, very close affair at the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on Saturday. Merritt crossed the line falling down in 44.50 to beat Wariner by just one one-hundredth of a second. This was the most thrilling event of the first day in Stuttgart. In football terms one could probably say that the season’s Merritt – Wariner match was only decided after extra time and penalties with a one goal difference.
The duels between Wariner, the two-time World champion, and Merritt were among the top stories athletics produced this season. Hardly anyone would have predicted half a year ago that it could get that close and that indeed it was Merritt and not Wariner who was going to win the major races.
RELATED STORIES
Merritt vs. Wariner 2008 (IAAF.org, Sept. 13, 2008)
http://www.iaaf.org/WAF08/news/kind=103/newsid=47680.html
Portsmouth's Merritt beats Wariner again (The Virginian-Pilot, Sept. 14, 2008)
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