Wariner reclaims lead in men's 400m in Paris

Wariner and Merritt at the Golden League in Paris(Photo credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, July 21) -- Jeremy Wariner, Athens 2004 Olympic gold medallist, reasserted his dominance with a 43.86-second finish in the men's 400m at the AF Golden League in Paris on July 18.

LaShawn Merritt, the US Olympic trials champion, who has defeated Wariner twice this season, finished a distant second with 44.35 seconds.

Looking back, Wariner insisted that his confidence had not been affected by his loss to Merrit at the US trials.

"My confidence was never shot since I lost those races," Wariner was quoted by the International Association of Athletics Federations as saying. "Today I felt great running. When I saw my time I was excited, it was my second 43 of the season, and it's a pretty good way of going into the Olympics now."