Merrit throws Gauntlet (4 Bolt)

**djvenom** · by **djvenom** on Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:34 am

Olympic 400-metre champion, LaShawn Merritt, has issued a warning to Jamaica's world sprint sensation Usain Bolt not to expect a step up to the quarter-mile to be easy.
Bolt, decorated with a proliferation of 2008 Athlete of the Year awards for his majestic world-record sprint victories at the Beijing Olympics, is considering an assault on the 400 metres and Michael Johnson's world record in the one-lap event.
But the American Merritt declared yesterday in a New York Daily News story that the Jamaican should not expect - if he tackles the 400 metres - to cruise to victory like he did in the 100 and 200 metres in Beijing.
"I'm the best quarter-miler. I'm the No. 1, reigning Olympic champion in the 400," said Merritt.
"If you're going to come get me, come get me. But it's not going to be easy ... . As far as I'm concerned, the world record isn't out of my reach either," added Merritt.
Outstanding runners
Both runners are outstanding 22-year-olds and while Bolt produced blistering world-record runs for gold in the 100 (9.69 seconds) and 200 metres (19.30), plus the sprint relay with the Jamaican team in Beijing, Merritt was a huge winner of the 400 in a 2008 world best 43.75 seconds.
Merritt was just under sixth-tenths of a second outside Johnson's world mark of 43.18 seconds.
Johnson's 12-year-old 200-metre world record of 19.32 seconds fell to Bolt in Beijing, but Merritt does not think the Jamaican's tremendous success in the sprints will automatically transfer to similar results in a longer race.
"In the 400, you actually hurt, there's a point in the race where you're going to feel the lactic acid and you have to know how to relax and fight through it," Merritt said.
"You have to know how to handle that. A lot of people can't," Merritt said.

source: the gleaner

**blacknite** · by **blacknite** on Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:22 pm

lol, merrit is trying to get some media time, that nigga aint shit, probably jeremy warner could hold bolt back, but not lame ass merrit..... we'll see as this develps......... hmm they might take some drug just like johnson did........

**Naughty** · by **Naughty** on Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:05 pm

Who the *Expletive deleted. keep it up and u'll be BANNED* is he, Bolt npt going for him, he is going for Johnson record, afta merit anu nuh body, him need fi guh hold a seat.

**blacknite** · by **blacknite** on Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:22 pm

lol.............. he's the olympic champion

**dBosS** · by **dBosS** on Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:56 pm

hisses teeth waste man>>> rubbish... him waah get famous affa bolt

**prostyle** · by **prostyle** on Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:46 pm

Merritt is a good athlete still, and so is Wariner. all he is saying is that this is another ball game thats all, and everyone who knows track and field knows that, shit Bolt admitted that. it will be interesting when Bolt steps up to the challenge

**djvenom** · by **djvenom** on Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:34 pm

i think it will be merrit stepping up to the challenge , give merrit some props though he does work hard but dont think 400 is out of bolts range after wat he use to do to the event