By Symone Goss, World-Track
Editor’s Note: Correction on the third paragraph where we reported as a season’s best for Wariner. This was not a year best for the American.
STOCKHOLM — World Champion Jeremy Wariner stepped up his preparations for the defense of his 400 metres title in Berlin with a strong victory at the DN Galan Super Grand Prix meeting in Stockholm on Friday.
Wariner, who is set for a strong clash with fellow countryman LaShawn Merritt over the distance at the World Championships next month, won the race in a fast 44.83 to hammer the solid field.
The time was a best for the American since his 44.66 in May and he pulled away from the pack with one of his trademark finishes to best Great Britain’s Michael Bingham 45.49 and American Kerron Clement, 45.83.
In strong race over the barriers, Canadian Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Shliep chased down the in form Australian Sally McLellan to win the women’s 100m hurdles in a personal best of 12.51 seconds.
American world leader Lolo Jones was just a step behind her in 12.52, with Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton taking third in 12.57. McLellan faded to fourth in 12.67.
The meeting got off to an exciting start with the men’s 1000m run.
Leading the race heading into the home straight, Abubaker Kaki found himself struggling to hold off the strong finished from Kenyan-born Bahrain Ali Bilal Mansoor, who muscled out the Sudan’s favourite to win in 2:16.55. Kaki stumbled in at third.
