Berlin, Germany - LaShawn Merritt and Pamela Jelimo took some prized scalps this afternoon in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 67,124 spectators at the DKB-ISTAF Berlin, the opening meeting of the ÅF Golden League in Berlin’s Olympic stadium (1 June).

Three world season leads were established (400m, 1500m, 5000m) and another one (women’s High Jump) was equalled.

‘The plan is to beat Jeremy again’

Yesterday, the Meeting Director Gerhard Janetzky suggested it might happen – click here – and so it came to pass today that Jeremy Wariner, the third quickest 400m runner in history, lost to compatriot LaShawn Merritt in one of the biggest upsets at a one-day meet in recent years.

The two-time World and reigning Olympic champion came well out of the blocks and had a clear advantage on all the other seven lanes after the first 100m had been run. Then Merritt began his counter attack which saw the World silver medallist draw absolutely level with Wariner at the opening of the final 100m.

Duelling down the middle of the final straight, with Merritt in lane three and Wariner in the next outside him, neither man was prepared to give quarter. But with about 20 metres to go the champion’s posture seemed to stiffen up, and with that break in his usually fluid style his challenger opened up some daylight between them and moved away decisively for a world season lead of 44.03 seconds with Wariner closing out in 44.07.