Jeremy Wariner

Wariner set the year's world-best time in the 400 meters

Friday July 18, 2008 5:49PM

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -- Jeremy Wariner set the year's world-best time in the 400 meters and Blanka Vlasic and Pamela Jelimo won at the Gaz de France meet to remain in the running for the Golden League jackpot on Friday.

Wariner finished in 43.86 seconds, outclassing his main rival and fellow American LaShawn Merritt, who was second in 44.35.

"I just wanted to come out here and make a statement," said Wariner, the world and Olympic champion. "I did that today. I just got to keep running like I did today and hopefully in the Olympics I'll come out on top."

Both Americans were neck and neck in the final turn, but Wariner accelerated past Merritt in the homestretch.

"I executed the race like I wanted to," said Wariner, the world and Olympic champion. "Everything is flowing. My finish is strong. It is a great time.

"Now I get to go to Stockholm, hopefully get another great race and go home and train hard."

Dayron Robles also made a strong statement three weeks before the Olympics, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 12.88, just one hundredth of a second shy of his world record.

"I was here to go under 12.90," Robles said. "The time is pretty perfect. I love to run in Paris. In Beijing, I will take the races one by one until the final."

The Cuban led from the first hurdle to the finish line. Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell was second in 13.19, and Antwon Hicks of the United States third in 13.27.

World champion Vlasic of Croatia cleared 6 feet, 7 inches in the high jump to remain in the running for the Golden League jackpot with 800 meter runner Jelimo of Kenya.

Ariane Friedrich of Germany placed second with a 6-5 1/2 leap.

Jelimo accelerated in the backstretch to ease away from world champion Janeth Jepkosgei in a 2008-leading time of 1:54.97.

"I'm so happy to win," Jelimo said. "It was a test before the [Olympic] Games and I'm very happy to have succeeded."

Lucia Klocova ran a personal best 1:58.51 to edge Jepkosgei for second place.

In the men's 400 hurdles, world champion Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson were in the lead until the last hurdle where Clement escaped to hit the tape in 48.33 while Jackson slipped to fourth place, beaten by Danny McFarlane of Jamaica, second in 48.71, and Angelo Taylor of the United States, third in 48.91.

"It was very important to get this first place," Clement said. "It will give me confidence for Beijing."

World champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain took the women's 1,500 in 3:59.99 while Shannon Rowbury of the United States improved her personal best by more than a second to finish second in 4:00.33.

Sanya Richards of the United States won the 200 in 22.56, two hundredths of a second ahead of her compatriot Carmelita Jeter.

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