Merritt upsets Wariner at US trials

LaShawn Merritt upset Olympic and world 400-metres champion Jeremy Wariner but both joined Sanya Richards in qualifying for the Beijing Olympics on Thursday night at the US Olympic track and field trials.

Merritt had lost 11 of 13 prior races to Wariner but edged him June 1 at Berlin, inflicting Wariner's first loss in a race he finished since 2005. By repeating the feat at the Oregon trials, Marritt earned bragging rights heading to Beijing.

"Just making the Olympic team (was my motivation)," Merritt said. "I never made the Olympic team before. I wanted to come out here and put on a good show. I won and I'm on the way to Beijing."

Merritt grabbed the lead early and held off Wariner in the final 100 metres to win in 44.00 with Wariner second in 44.20 and David Neville third in 44.61 to claim Beijing berths.

US men have won every Olympic 400 crown since the US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games and discounting that have lost only one 400 title since 1952.

Jamaican-born Richards won the women's 400 in 49.89, pulling away around the final curve to defeat runner-up Mary Wineberg by .96 of a second with Dee Dee Trotter third in 50.88.

"I was just working so hard for this. I knew I would be prepared," Richards said. "This is a huge step. One more to go - Beijing."

Richards, 23, was fourth at last year's US meet and missed the world championships after not having lost in the event in almost two years. New medication for a strength-sapping illness has her back on form for Beijing.

Richards won on the 2004 Olympic gold medal US 4x400 relay but has never won an individual world or Olympic gold at the distance.

Reigning 1500 and 5000 world champion Bernard Lagat, who won the 5000 on Monday, continued his Beijing double bid, reaching Friday's 1500 semi-finals despite finishing fourth in his heat behind overall pace-setter Alan Webb.

Also advancing were Sudan-born Lopez Lomong, who won his heat in 3:43.38, and Mexican-born Leonel Manzano, second to Lomong in 3:43.41.

Sunday's 1500 final is the meet's last race.

Pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski, expected to threaten defending Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia in Beijing, was among 12 qualifiers for Sunday's women's pole vault final by clearing 4.30m.

"Qualifying rounds are always stressful but I think it went all right," said Stuczynski. "It all comes down to the finals now and I am prepared to jump what I need."

Stacy Dragila, the 2000 Olympic champion and two-time world champion who has been nagged by injuries in recent years, also cleared 4.30 to advance.

"I did better than I expected," Dragila said. "Now I just need to rest up for the finals."

Brittney Reese, who won the US college title last month, leaped 6.95m with a 1.4m/sec tailwind on her final attempt to win the long jump title with the best mark by an American this year with Grace Upshaw second at 6.88.

"I told myself, 'You've got one more jump. Go for it.' I did and I won," Reese said.