Wariner's speedy run gets Johnson's stamp of approval

Even Michael Johnson thought Jeremy Wariner was impressive in his stirring 400 meters victory at the world championships on Friday.

"That's how you run,"Johnson told Wariner. "You pulled away from them doing the home stretch and stayed relaxed. That's exactly what you needed to do."

Johnson also told Wariner he had proved a point and made a statement for the rest of the season.

Wariner's 43.45 seconds was a personal best and the fifth fastest of all time. Only Johnson and former record holder Butch Reynolds have run faster.

"My goals are to beat the world record and be the first to run sub 43," the 23-year-old Wariner said.

"Michael said my last 100 meters could be a little faster," Wariner said. "My first 60 meters could be a little quicker than it was ... Every part of my race there could be a little 10th taken off."

The difference was Wariner's last 100 meters.

"Off the turn we were even," the 21-year-old Merritt said. "But that's where the race started."

All that hard training in the Texas heat made Wariner the stronger runner.

"LaShawn has always been there at the 300," Wariner said. "But I am able to stay relaxed in my last 100. That's one thing he's still trying to work on.

"I know if I run like I have been, I am not going to be beaten."

"I've got a long career ahead of me," he said. "Every race I run at, I'm going for the world record. It does not matter where I am at, that's my goal, to break it."