Aug. 21, 2008

BEIJING, China - Jeremy Wariner clocked 44.74 to finish second in the finals of the 400 meters on Thursday at the Beijing National Stadium.

Wariner, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the event, earned the silver medal as the United States completed a sweep of the top three positions. LaShawn Merritt finished in first in 43.75.

Baylor athletes have now won medals in the finals in each of the last four Olympic Games. Michael Johnson won gold in the event in 1996 and 2000, while Wariner took gold in 2004.

Quartermiler-U will also have three former athletes in the 4x400-meter relay pool including Wariner and Olympic gold medalist Darold Williamson. At the 2004 Olympic Games, Wariner handed off to Williamson for the anchor leg as the Americans won gold. Reggie Witherspoon, who ran the leadoff leg on Baylor's school record 4x400-meter relay squad in 2007, will also be in the relay pool after finishing fourth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in July.