Wariner makes light of sore hamstring
CARSON, California (Reuters) - Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner was in upbeat mood after shrugging off a hamstring problem to cruise to victory in the men's 400 meters at the Adidas Track Classic on Sunday.
The 24-year-old American was forced to withdraw from his previous race, a 200 meters in Doha on May 9, and had been cautious about competing in Carson.
"When I first arrived here, we were going day by day to decide whether I was going to run or not with my hamstring," Wariner told reporters after surging to the finish line in 44.42.
"There was a 60 percent chance I probably wasn't going to run. Then on Friday I felt better.
"We told everyone it would be a Sunday decision so, after I warmed up, I said I was ready to go," added the Texas native, who has dominated the distance for the last three years.
"If not, I was going to hold off until Berlin."
The heavy favorite for repeat Olympic gold in Beijing, Wariner is scheduled to race next over 400 meters at Golden League meetings in Berlin and Oslo in early June.
He has also set his sights on breaking fellow American Michael Johnson's 400 world record and was happy with his time on Sunday.
"Being I was a little timid to come out of the blocks, I got out slower than I wanted to," he said after finishing ahead of Canada's Tyler Christopher and American Chris Brown.
"But my kick was pretty good and my first 150 would have been better had I not had this hamstring problem. It felt fine at the end and, as the race continued, I knew it would get better and better.
"Times will drop no matter what and I know that, come trials, I'll be able to run with everybody else," added Wariner, referring to the U.S. trials from June 27-July 6 in Eugene, Oregon.
"I ran 44.42 today with a tight hamstring. I've said it before, I run a lot better when I have rounds to run. I will be ready to run with everybody."
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
