Merritt upsets Wariner in 400m final

By Gene Cherry

EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - World silver medalist LaShawn Merritt upset Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner for a convincing win in the U.S. Olympic trials 400 meters on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Merritt, wearing the U.S. colors of red, white and blue on a necklace, took the lead around 200 meters and surged to victory in 44.00 seconds.

Wariner finished second in 44.20 seconds with David Neville third in 44.61.

"Once I got into the home stretch I was smelling Beijing and victory," Merritt told reporters after making his first Olympic team.

The victory was Merritt's second over Wariner in three races this year. The former world junior champion surprised Wariner in the Golden League opener at Berlin in June with Wariner winning a semi-final race involving the two at the U.S. trials on Monday.

But Merritt said the victory was not about out-running Wariner.

"My focus was not to beat anybody, my focus was to cross the finish line first," he said.

"He (Wariner) has been a champion for two years but it's a new year," Merritt said.