The men’s 400 lived up to its bill as one of the most compelling head-to-heads of the weekend. In a brilliant display illustrating just how fierce the rivalry between 400m aces Lashawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner is, ultimately just a scant 0.01 seconds separated the pair. And it was Merritt, who tumbled hard across the line, who took the victory.

“I won the three biggest races of the year,” said Merritt, whose winning time of 44.50 meant little in the rapidly cooling conditions, “The U.S. Trials, the Olympics and the World Athletics Final. I accomplished what I set out to do this year.”

While he downplays the rivalry –“there are eight men in each race who line up to win,” Merritt said - it is notable that his thrilling homestretch victory gave the season-long edge to Merritt, four races to three, an important boost of confidence with which to end his 2008 campaign and prepare for 2009.

But it was Wariner, the two-time World champion, who seemed the better runner today, at least for the first 250 metres. The lanky Texan appeared to have a marginal lead as he approached the final bend, nearly making up the stagger on Merritt, who was to his outside in lane five.

Wariner appeared in control as he entered the homestraight with an edge of a few metres, but Merritt was relentless. Merritt narrowed the gap with each stride over the final 40 metres until the pair crossed the line virtually side-by-side before Merritt’s lean turned into a tumble and dive.

“We’re both going to step it up next year, and I definitely have to step it up more if I want to get back on top,” Wariner said.

Further back the battle for third was nearly as close with Bahamian Chris Brown edging Olympic 400m Hurdles champion Angelo Taylor by 0.01 in 45.37.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF