Merritt pulls upset on track
Posted on Friday, July 4, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/230466/
EUGENE, Ore. — Jeremy Wariner isn’t invincible anymore — a point LaShawn Merritt proved once again Thursday night.
Merritt pulled his second upset of the year over the world’s supposed fastest 400-meter runner, running away from Wariner in the homestretch to win the U. S. Olympic track and field trials.
It was the second big stunner of the night in America’s trials. In the pool in Omaha, Neb., Brendan Hansen finished a shocking fourth in the 200-meter breaststroke.
Unlike Hansen, Wariner still did enough to earn his spot on the Olympic team in his best event.
And not everybody at the track was calling this an upset.
“Coming into this, I wasn’t really worried about everyone saying I wasn’t the favorite,” Merritt said. “In my mind, I was the favorite.”
Merritt finished in 44 seconds flat, defeating Wariner by 0. 20. Earning the third spot was national indoor champion David Neville.
Moments before, the women’s 400 went much more to form, with Sanya Richards winning and Mary Wineberg and Dee Dee Trotter capturing the other two spots.
In the 1, 500-meter quarterfinals, Bernard Lagat, Lopez Lomong, Alan Webb and Leo Manzano advanced to today’s semis. Lagat, already qualified for the Olympics in the 5, 000, finished fourth in his heat, clearly saving energy for two more races to come.
The race of the night, however, was the 400.
Merritt took to the track with a red-white-and-blue necklace his massage therapist made for him before the race. Wariner was in his trademark sunglasses, even though it was twilight.
He said he wasn’t disappointed in finishing second, but his body language at the finish line told a different story. He shuffled his feet in apparent frustration, then looked at the clock, which showed 44. 20 — well off his personal best (43. 45 ) and nowhere near Michael Johnson’s world record (43. 18 ) that Wariner has said is within his reach this year. Arkansan results How Arkansas fared Thursday at the U. S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore.
MEN SAID AHMED (Arkansas ) Qualified for the 1, 500 semifinals in 3 minutes, 41. 92 seconds. JAMES HATCH (Arkansas ) Qualified for the 1500 semifinals in 3: 45. 55. ANDY MCCLARY (Arkansas ) Qualified for the 1, 500 semifinals in 3: 45. 40. WOMEN DACIA BARR (Arkansas ) Qualified for the 1, 500 semifinals in 4: 19. 51. ANDREE PICKENS (Jonesboro ) Did not clear a height in the pole vault, failed to advance. APRIL STEINER-BENNETT (Arkansas ) Cleared 14 feet, 1. 25 inches in the pole vault to advance to the final. JILLIAN SCHWARTZ (Jonesboro ) Cleared 14 feet, 1. 25 inches in the pole vault to advance to the final. KATIE STRIPLING (Arkansas, Jonesboro ) Did not clear a height in the pole vault, failed to advance. JODI UNGER (Arkansas ) Did not clear a height in the pole vault, failed to advance. CHRISTIN WURTH-THOMAS (Arkansas ) Qualified for the 1, 500 semifinals in 4: 13. 40. Competing today A list of athletes with Arkansas ties scheduled to compete today at the U. S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore.
MEN ATHLETE (TIE ) EVENT SAID AHMED (Arkansas ) 1, 500 NKOSINZA BALUMBU (Arkansas ) triple jump ERIC BROWN (Arkansas ) javelin TYSON GAY (Arkansas ) 200 JAMES HATCH (Arkansas ) 1500 ANDY MCCLARY (Arkansas ) 1, 500 J-MEE SAMUELS (Arkansas ) 200 WALLACE SPEARMON (Arkansas ) 200 SETH SUMMERSIDE (Arkansas ) 10, 000 WOMEN ATHLETE (TIE ) EVENT DACIA BARR (Arkansas ) 1, 500 LASHAUNTE’A MOORE (Arkansas ) 200 CHRISTIN WURTH-THOMAS (Arkansas ) 1, 500