The guy is a dream come true. He's not juicing and he has a very smart, methodical approach.
Wariner chases world record
BY SCOTT M. REID
The Orange County Register
Carsonâ€â€The two-plus carat earrings that swallow each lobe are cubic zirconia. Jeremy Wariner's fashion statements come via T-shirts.
"I Am The Greatest" boasts Muhammad Ali on the front of Wariner's shirt.
"It speaks for itself," the 2004 Olympic 400-meter champion said of the shirt. "Right now I'm trying to be the best in my event. I'm on my way. I've just got to get past some barriers first."
Like running his first sub-44-second 400 on U.S. soil in Sunday's adidas Track Classic at The Home Depot Center, the next step in Wariner's pursuit of Michael Johnson's world record.
Only a few years ago Johnson's mark was regarded as one of the sport's most insurmountable records. In his 1997 historical study of track and field world records, Dr. Gerald Lawson projected that 43.20 would be the 400 record in 2015. Three years later Johnson ran 43.18 at the World championships.
But after Wariner went 43.62 last summer, even Johnson seems resigned that the record is living on borrowed time.
"We don't discuss it that much anymore," Wariner said, referring to the once good-natured kidding about the record with Johnson, his mentor and agent. "He kind of feels it is going to happen one day and doesn't want to admit it yet."
Perhaps even more daunting is U.S. track officials' hope that in chasing Johnson's record, Wariner, 23, and other early 20-something stars like miler Alan Webb and sprinter Allyson Felix can lead the American sport out of the long shadow cast by high-profile drug scandals.
"We're the ones to get the sport to where it needs to go," Wariner said.
Wariner has ruled the 400 with a Johnson-like dominance since winning gold in Athens. He posted 2006's five-fastest 400s, 10 of the top 12, including three sub-44s in the space of three weeks.
Yet Wariner is more often recognized at McDonalds in Europe  "yes, I eat at McDonalds"  than in his hometown of Waco, Texas.
"The only time (the U.S. media publicizes) track and field is when something negative pops up," he said.
Not that he minds the anonymity at home. The central Texas college town fits him.
"It's boring. That's the way I like it, said Wariner, who lives alone in a house near the airport. "One terminal, one gate."
Wariner also trains alone at Baylor with Clyde Hart, his coach and occasional golfing partner.
"We play best ball," he said, referring to Hart, who also guided Johnson's career. "My drives are good but his short game is better."
Wariner's best races have reflected his golf game. In his 43.62 in Rome last July, Wariner scorched the first 350 but eased off with the race in hand.
"I didn't run through the (finish) line," he said. "That probably cost me at least two-tenths of a second."
Wariner ran this season's world-leading 44.02 on May 5 in Osaka despite forgetting to kick coming off the last turn. Despite the brain lock, the race reinforced Hart's and Wariner's belief that Johnson's mark could fall at this summer's World championships, also in Osaka.
"(Hart) knows I can get the world record," Wariner said. "It's just a matter of putting everything together."
Wariner was asked about his pursuit of Johnson's record over the public address system at a recent Texas track meet.
"It's mine," crowed Wariner, spotting Johnson in the crowd.
"He was laughing," Wariner recalled.
