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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 11:42 p.m., Thursday, May 7, 2009

Track: American Wariner back in Osaka to run 400 meters

Associated Press

OSAKA, Japan — Three-time Olympic track gold medalist Jeremy Wariner has every reason to be confident heading into Saturday's Osaka Grand Prix.

Wariner, who took silver in the 400 meters at last year's Beijing Olympics, will contest his specialist event here, facing Beijing bronze medalist and fellow American David Neville.

Wariner has had good results over the years at Nagai Stadium, running a personal-best 43.45 in winning the 400 last year. He clocked a time of 45.06 last month at the Drake Relays and is in good form heading into Saturday's meet.

It was also at Nagai where Wariner won gold in the 400 at the 2007 world championships, leading an American sweep of the podium.

Neville may not be in top shape yet — his season best is only 46.26.

Australian Sean Wroe, who set a personal best of 45.07 this season, is also expected to race. The best Japanese runner in the field is Yuzo Kanemaru, who has run 45.27 this season.

American Rodney Martin is the favorite in the men's 100, where he has a personal best of 9.95. Martin is also scheduled to run in the 200, an event where he clocked 19.99 at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials.

Other contenders in the 100 include Trinidad's Marc Burns and American Preston Perry.

American Kerron Clement leads a strong field in the men's 400 hurdles. Clement, whose season best is 49.10, is the reigning world champion and Olympic silver medalist.

Japanese star Dai Tamsue, a two-time world championships bronze medalist, will not take part as he is currently training in California.

The women's 100 meters will feature Americans Brianna Glenn and Ashlee Williams. Glenn heads into the Osaka meet having clocked a season best of 11.35.