Jeremy Wariner

Rome, Italy - In terms of head-to-head matches on the Golden Gala Kinder+Sport meeting - ÅF Golden League - programme, nothing remotely matched the pre-meet hype of the season's third face-off between the world’s finest quarter milers, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt. And with their dramatic homestretch run, the pair certainly delivered.

Wariner, the reigning Olympic and World champion, arrived in the Italian capital after suffering a pair of back-to-back defeats to his rapidly rising challenger and although he didn’t acknowledge that that particular fact weighed on him as he set his blocks, conventional wisdom clearly stated that this was a race Wariner needed to win. And he did so by the narrowest margins, winning in the lean by a mere 0.01 seconds in 44.36.

“I worked the turn better than I did at the trials and in Berlin,” Wariner, said referring to his previous two losses at the hands of Merritt. “I got out strong to get to the 200 and then I worked the turn. And I think that’s the thing that got me the victory. I finally executed like I should have at Trials.”

Wariner said he felt no sense of relief from his victory, and admitted that a bit of luck played a small part.

“It’s not a relief. LaShawn’s going to be there for the rest of the season. So I just have to work harder, and keep executing like I did tonight. After looking at the tape, I think he dipped a little early. I think that’s what got me the victory.”

Merritt, who finished strongly, concurred. “I started to lean a little too early. That’s ok. You live, you run, you learn. I did what I came to do. I feel good, so that’s all that matters.”

Not too shaken by the defeat, Merritt said that the final 50 metres of the race, when he managed to cut his rival’s lead to mere inches, was the shape of things to come.

“He was ahead at 300; I knew how the race was going to play out,” Merritt said. “I feel good about the race and as you can see, the part of the race that I’ve been working on is coming, the finish. So when I put it together, there’s going to be problems.”

With that, it was Wariner who concurred.

“The only thing I need to work on is the last 60 or 70 metres. I felt a little weak, but I was able to hold on and get the victory. I knew he was going to be there. I just needed to stay relaxed down the homestretch and not tighten up.”

Merritt is also already looking ahead. “I ran my race, got what I got, and look forward to the next race.”

And that will come soon enough. When the  - ÅF Golden League - series continues in Paris next weekend, Wariner vs. Merritt will take centre stage for the final time before the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF