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Kirani James concedes defeat to LaShawn Merritt – blames loss to tactical error
A jubilant Kirani James of Grenada after winning the 400m gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games. PHOTO/Getty Images
World and Olympic 400 meter champion Kirani James has conceded that it was a tactical error which cost him a first win over the former World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
Merritt continued his unbeaten run against James on home soil to win the Prefontaine Classic in a season’s best 44.32 seconds.
James was second in 44.39 and American Tony McQuay took the third spot in 45.31.
“I allowed LaShawn to get ahead of me too much but it was a good overall race for me,” said James.
“Hopefully in the future it can be exciting as this one”.
Last month James won the one-lap event convincingly at the Diamond League in Shanghai, China.
Merritt, who will be 27 this month, is not concerned about age but rather his health and preparation for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
