Jeremy Wariner

"I really loved baseball," Wariner says. "That's what I wanted to do with my life."

Plans changed after Wariner didn't get much playing time as a high school freshman and switched his spring emphasis to track. A football coach at Arlington (Texas) Lamar made the suggestion because he was impressed by the defensive back-wide receiver's speed.

"I've loved running ever since I started," says Wariner, whose first 400 meters was an impressive sub-50.5 seconds. "It's a great stress relief."
In just his fifth year of running, Wariner has the fastest 400 time in the world this year and is a favorite for the Olympic gold medal in an event that starts Friday and concludes Monday.

Wariner, 20, who recently finished his sophomore year at Baylor, is the second 400 runner to win NCAA indoor and outdoor titles plus the U.S. Olympic trials in the same year. Georgia Tech's Antonio McKay did it in 1984, when he was third in the Olympics.

Wariner has a fan in a fellow Dallas-area and Baylor product, Michael Johnson, winner of five Olympic gold medals including two in the 400.

"What impresses me most about Jeremy is his ability to focus," says Johnson, who retired in 2001. "He works hard and is very determined, but I've seen young athletes with those characteristics before.

"What he has in addition to the above, and talent, is his ability to separate the possible end result of the race — good or bad — from his preparation for the race and his execution of the race. This allows him to execute each race the same way each time, regardless of whether it's the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco or the Olympic trials in Sacramento. I expect that he will be able to approach the race in Athens the same way."

In some ways, the two couldn't be more different. Johnson never won a Texas state title in high school. Wariner won two, in the 200 and 400, and as a senior had the nation's best 200 time and second-best 400 time. Wariner also was a good prep football player; Johnson didn't play the sport.

Johnson was a well-muscled 6-0, 180 pounds and African-American. The 6-0, 165-pound Wariner is a skinny white kid. Johnson has earrings with real diamonds. Wariner sports fakes. Johnson had an upright, choppy style. Wariner is fluid.

But that's the superficial stuff. This is what Clyde Hart, head coach at Baylor for 42 years, values:

"Jeremy loves to run, loves to practice, never complains. It's one of those situations where I thought maybe Michael was the only one I'd coach who was like that. Jeremy has the same basic qualities of focus, a great work ethic. If you have natural ability to go with that, then just stand back there and get them ready."

Wariner might have earned national attention last year, but he injured a hamstring in the NCAA indoor final and then developed a foot problem, curtailing his outdoor season.

Wariner lost his first outdoor meet of 2004 to teammate Darold Williamson, who was fourth in the trials, missing a 400 berth by 0.03 seconds. Wariner hasn't lost since, cracking 45 seconds for the first time in the next meet and establishing his personal best of 44.37 in the trials.

"I don't feel like I've peaked," Wariner says. "My times are still dropping. I'm a lot stronger since (the trials). My speed has gotten faster. Each part of my race is getting better each week, each day. I think I'll be able to go under 44 soon."

Wariner has been able to run consistently in the 44s thanks to his sense of pace.

"He's executing the 400 as well as anyone I've ever had outside of Michael," Hart says. "Michael, you could write down what he was going to come to at different points. Jeremy is close to that, and he's only 20. Michael was in his mid-20s before he got into that groove."

Wariner is in such a groove now that agents estimate he could earn $200,000 a year on the track circuit. That would mean giving up NCAA eligibility.

"I'm 99% sure I'm coming back," he says of competing next season for Baylor.

After the Games, the plan is for Hart, Wariner, Wariner's parents and Johnson to discuss the situation. Either way, Wariner plans to keep Hart as his coach.

"It would be selfish for us to say we didn't want him to come out," Hart says. "But you've got to know what's out there before you can make those decisions."

Some of what's out there for him will be determined in the next few days.

"I'm not going to let (expectations) affect me," he says.

"I can't take anything for granted just because I have the fastest time in the world. Whoever runs their race and doesn't think about anything else will win."