Here are both Jeremy’s and LaShawn’s bests over the years…
Wariner
2004 (20 yr old) - 44.00
2005 (21 yr old) - 43.93
2006 (22 yr old) - 43.62, 43.91, 43.99
2007 (23 yr old) - 43.45, 43.50
2008 (24 yr old) - 43.82, 43.98
2009 (25 yr old) - 44.60
Merritt
2006 (20yr old) - 44.14
2007 (21yr old) - 43.96
2008 (22yr old) - 43.75
2009 (23yr old) - 44.06
I didn’t include any 44+ times for these guys unless it was their SB that year. Jeremy has dropped below 44 seconds on eight different occasions compared to Merritt’s two times. Also, Wariner’s PB is .40 seconds faster than Merritt’s - not to mention that he has beaten Merritt’s PB three times.
I guess my question is: “What happened?” To me, Jeremy at his best was better than what Merritt at his best has been thus far. If Jeremy is able to attain the level he once was at, do you think Merritt could beat him (i.e., Could Merritt run faster than a 43.45?)? I guess that also makes me wonder, can Wariner match his best again?
What are your thoughts?