Darold Williamson pips 2004 Olympic gold medallist Jeremy Wariner (Victah Sailer)
University student Williams pips Wariner in 400m
Sunday 24 April 2005
With their mentor, Olympic legend Michael Johnson watching, Baylor University senior Darold Williamson pipped 2004 Olympic gold medallist Jeremy Wariner in the 400m at the Michael Johnson Classic yesterday in Waco, Texas, USA.
Williamson and Wariner battled down the stretch before Williamson crossed the line first in 45.06, with Wariner clocking 45.16.
Jiang Bo of China, one of four Chinese sprinters who have trained in Waco under US coaching legend Clyde Hart for the past two months, was third in 46.88.
Hart guided both Johnson and Wariner - another Baylor University product who won the 400m gold and led the USA 4x400m relay team to gold last August at the Athens Olympics at age 20.
Two of the other Chinese athletes, the first ever sent abroad to train by the Chinese Athletic Association, competed in university-level finals. Zhou Jiamin was fourth in the 100m in 11.93, and Yang Yaozu won the 200m, while Hu Chengjiang failed to reach the final of the university level 400m.
AFP