The first shock of the World Athletics Final came when World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner was beaten in the 400m by fellow American Tyree Washington who won with a season’s best 44.51 - the best time yet seen in a World Athletics Final.
Wariner led into the home straight but ended up walking across the line, clutching his groin as the rest of the field swept past him the final 20 metres of the race.
Britain’s Tim Benjamin secured his reputation as a man to watch in the future as he took second place in 44.56, lowering his personal best by nearly two tenths. Bahamas’ Christopher Brown was third in 44.68 while Wariner ended up last in 46.37.
Wariner was clear favourite and set off fast in lane four, catching Benjamin by 200m and cruising the bend to enter the home straight just in the lead. He was still ahead with 50 metres to go but a line of three in the lanes outside him - Benjamin, Brown and Washington - were closing fast.
Washington may have caught Wariner anyway, but the World champion pulled up sharply with his hand on his left hip just 15 metres from the line.
MB
