Sport
Kirani James concedes defeat to LaShawn Merritt – blames loss to tactical error
“I know Kirani James works hard and he’s growing every year. He understands the race but I am not going anywhere,” said Merrit who served a 21-month suspension for a doping violation and a hamstring injury which hampered the defense of his Olympic title.
“It’s sort of like I am the older guy in these races but I still feel young, only 26. So I take that in consideration and know that they are just younger than I am, but I am not old at all”.
The rivalry between Merrit and James, 20, is setting the stage for a major Moscow showdown in the men’s 400m at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
However, Merritt will first have to qualify at the USA Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, June 20-23.
“It means I’m working hard and I’m taking a race at a time and the ultimate goal is Moscow and getting there and win,” he said.
“I go to Iowa and I will try to run three smart races to make the team and I look forward to Moscow and get there and go to work.”
James, an automatic qualifier as the defending world champion, is focus on his race execution.
