Up-and-comer Tony McQuay of the University of Florida won the men’s 400-meter dash at the U.S. outdoor championships Saturday, blowing past former Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner over the final 100 meters.
Wariner faded but held off Greg Nixon for second.
The victory over Wariner had McQuay making bold predictions for the world championships, Aug. 27 to Sept. 4 in Daegu, South Korea.
“I want to break the world record. I’ve got my mind set on that,” he said.
Lots of folks have for many years. In fact, Wariner has promised himself a new Ferrari should he break Michael Johnson’s nearly 12-year-old record.
McQuay wasn’t even close to Johnson’s record of 43.18 seconds Saturday, finishing in 44.68. And Wariner, running in Lane 2, needed a late lean — plus some decimal points — to edge Nixon 44.971 to 44.978.
Wariner wasn’t reading too much into this performance, admitting he was behind the collegiate runners at this stage in his training. McQuay was runner-up at the NCAA championships this month.
“They’ve had an indoor season and everything,” Wariner said. “By worlds, I’ll be perfectly fine.”
LaShawn Merritt, the reigning world champion in the men’s 400, wasn’t at nationals as he finishes up a 21-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance used in an over-the-counter male enhancement product.
Merritt has a bye into the field at worlds, but USA Track and Field’s policy stipulates an athlete needs to run in at least one event at nationals to compete. The board will meet after nationals to determine Merritt’s status.
Allyson Felix held off Francena McCorory at the finish to win the women’s 400 meters in 50.40 seconds, becoming the first woman to win national titles in the 100, 200, and 400. Debbie Dunn was third.
“I felt good throughout, and I feel like I’m learning a lot, how my body feels throughout,” Felix said.
By being the reigning world champion, Sanya Richards-Ross (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) has an automatic bid to worlds in the 400 but needs to qualify in the 200. She advanced to Sunday’s semifinals with a solid race at the shorter distance Saturday.
“I felt good. But I have to run faster than I did [Saturday] to make the team,” Richards-Ross said. “I’m up for the challenge.”
Carmelita Jeter, who won the 100 on Friday, had the fastest time in the women’s 200. Former University of Miami great Lauryn Williams finished third in her heat and qualified for the semifinals Sunday.
A watered-down version of the men’s 200 field completed the first round Saturday. There was no Tyson Gay (hip) or Justin Gatlin (sat out after qualifying in the 100). Meanwhile, Wallace Spearmon, still dealing with a nagging Achilles’ tendon injury, didn’t qualify for the next round. Shawn Crawford, the 2004 Olympic champion, had the fastest time, and Walter Dix (Coral Springs High), fresh off his 100 title, moved on, as well.
In the women’s 400 hurdles, Lashinda Demus won in 54.21 seconds. Former Hurricane Ti’erra Brown, the defending national champion, finished fifth in 55.93. Another former Cane, Takecia Jameson, finished eighth.
In the men’s 400 hurdles, defending national champion Bershawn Jackson (Miami Central) finished second in his semifinals heat and qualified for Sunday’s final.
Devon Hill, who just finished his junior season with the Canes, finished last in his heat in the 110-meter hurdles and did not qualify for Sunday’s final.
