EUGENE, Oregon: Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt celebrated his 23rd birthday by equaling the fastest 400 meters in the world this year when he clocked 44.50 seconds at the US world championship trials on Saturday.
“I ran and then raced,” Merritt said of the victory on a windy afternoon.
“I made the team. It was a birthday gift. 44.5, I can’t complain.” Gil Roberts took second in 44.93 with 400 hurdles world champion Kerron Clement third in 45.14.
Fourth-placed Lionel Larry will likely join Merritt and Roberts on the US 400 meters team for the Berlin world championships with Clement using his wild-card bye in the 400 hurdles.
Only the top three placers in the US trials and defending world champions qualify for the Aug. 15-25 world championships.
Olympic bronze medalist Sanya Richards tuned up for Friday’s showdown with British Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu in Oslo by winning the women’s 400 final in 50.05 seconds.
“I’m really looking forward to that race. I feel fresh this year,” said Richards.
Second place went to Debbie Dunn in 50.79 with Jessica Beard claiming the third spot for Berlin in 50.81. Despite the backstretch wind, Lashinda Demus won the women’s 400 meters hurdles final in 53.78 seconds, the year’s top time. Olympic silver medalist Sheena Tosta took second in 54.45 seconds.
Another Olympic runner-up, David Payne, clocked 13.12 seconds for victory in the men’s 110 meters hurdles. He edged Terrence Trammell, the 2000 and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, in the same time. Aries Merritt took third in 13.15.
Former Olympic and world champion Dwight Phillips dominated the long jump by soaring a wind-assisted 8.57 meters.
Defending world pole vault Brad Walker also won, leaping 5.75 meters in his first competition of the season.
Olympic silver medalist Shawn Crawford and world champion Allyson Felix paced qualifying in the 200 meters. Crawford ran a wind-assisted 20.19 seconds and Felix 22.58 seconds, also wind-assisted.
Both Olympic champion Dawn Harper and world champion Michelle Perry advanced in the women’s 100 meters hurdles as did Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor and bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson in the men’s 400 meters hurdles.
The trials conclude today.
