Olympic
400 metre champion Jeremy Wariner isn�t being boastful when
confidently predicting very fast times for 2005. On the
contrary, Wariner explained, exceptionally fast performances
will be nothing short of an absolute necessity just to
qualify for the US team for next August�s 10th IAAF World
Championships in Athletics, Helsinki, Finland.
�It�s going to
take a very fast time to make it the World Championships,�
said Wariner, who led teammates Otis Harris and Derrick Brew
to a sweep of the Olympic podium last August in Athens. �I
think mid to low 44 won�t make the team. I think three of us
are going to run under 44.�
The young
athletes are hungry
Of the ten men who ran 44.72 or faster last year, seven were
Americans. In the past month, two new stars - both still
teenagers - emerged to add more names to the already deep
mix: LaShawn Merritt, and Kerron Clement, who both dipped
under the 45 second barrier indoors, with Clement setting a
surprise World indoor record of 44.57*.
Yet even with
Clement, who said last week that he�ll focus primarily on
his main event, the 400m Hurdles, out of the immediate
picture, competition in the full-lap this year in the US
will be nothing less than staggering.
�The young
athletes are starting to step up now,� said Wariner, himself
barely 21-years-old. �The young athletes are hungry.�
Wariner said he
was impressed with the exploits of Merritt and Clement this
winter and was well aware of their feats over the past few
seasons, particularly Clement, who he watched several times
while the new world record holder was competing in high
school in Texas.
�With these
guys running so fast so early, I�m going to have great
competition this year.�
Relay record
under threat
�We have so much
talent this year,� Wariner continued. �Honestly, I think the
4x400 World record is in jeopardy.� If things go well, �2:53
is possible, maybe lower,� Wariner said. �Just lots of
talent,� he reiterated. �Lots of people will be left out
because of that.�
But Wariner
has no intention of being left behind. Fully rested after
taking the indoor season off competitively, the Baylor
University student said he�s well ahead of his physical
condition of 12 months ago.
�I�m coming
along better than this time last year,� he said. �I�m
already stronger and quicker than last year. My turnover is
a lot faster, my foot speed is a lot faster. So I�ll have
better turnover coming off the last turn.�
His training
regimen hasn�t strayed at all from that which led him to
NCAA, U.S. Olympic Trials and Olympic titles last year.
Putting on
muscle
�I�m doing the
same workouts day in and day out, each year. I�m doing the
same things Michael [Johnson] did,� he said, referring to
the world record holder who is now Wariner�s manager. While
their running styles were similar, due mainly to coach Clyde
Hart�s mentorship of both, the primary difference, Wariner
said, was Johnson�s stronger physique.
�Right now,
we�re working on trying to get more muscle,� Wariner said,
adding that he spends three days a week in the weight room.
�(Johnson) had a lot more muscle, so he had more strength at
the end of the race.�
Wariner said
his Achilles heel is in the race�s latter half, something
that he and Hart are focusing particular attention to.
�I�m more of a
sprinter type 400 runner, I have to get that pace earlier.�
The toughest part of the full-lap, he said, is running hard
on the second turn. �(Hart) says that lots of runners use
that part of the race as a rest. He says I should use that
to my advantage.�
Heart in Hart
Like Johnson
before him, and his current training partner Darold
Williamson, who anchored the US to the 4x400 gold in Athens,
Wariner places his full faith in Hart.
�Coach Hart
has said that he as a coach, he has not mastered the 400.
Every year, he learns something new. So that taught me:
don�t ever think you�re the best.�
Individual
400m opener on 23 April
After a few
early season relay appearances, including one last weekend
at Baylor�s Dr. Pepper Invitational and another at next
weekend�s Texas Relays, Wariner said he�s planning his first
open 400 at the Michael Johnson Classic at home in Waco on
23 April, followed by another at the Drake Relays on April
30. He also has appearances scheduled at the Modesto Relays
in early May and the Home Depot Invitational in Carson,
Calif. before his first European race of the year at the
Golden Spike Super Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic in
early June. This weekend, he�ll compete over the half lap at
the University of Texas at Arlington Invitational, one of �a
couple� 200s he said he�ll contest this year.
Johnson�s
mark is the target - Maybe even under 43
Even an
assault on Michael Johnson�s World record of 43.18 may be on
the not-too-distant horizon.
�That�s the
goal for me this year,� Wariner readily confirmed. �Coach
and I talked about it last semester, and he believes it can
be done this year, if not next year. It�s a great
possibility.�
Wariner said
Johnson, who he sees as another mentor, is somewhat
noncommittal about his prospects to claim his record.
�I think he
thinks I can (break the record), but he doesn�t want to
admit it. I think he wants to hold on to it a little bit
longer.�
Like most
athletes, he won�t say how fast he could go. After all, that
would simply define a self-imposed limit.
�There�s no
telling (how fast), especially with the competition right
now. We�re all just going to do what it takes. Maybe even
under 43.�
(by Bob Ramsak for the IAAF)
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