LaShawn Merritt

The United States started on Thursday evening to show its muscles seven days into the track and field competition at the Beijing Olympic Games, sweeping the medals in the men's 400m race.

World championship silver medalist LaShawn Merritt, with his personal best of 43.75-second Olympic run, toppled the reigning Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner, who had occupied the top place in the lap running for a few years.

Wariner, who particularly chose a pair of shiny silver track shoes in hope for his second Olympic title, used up his energy in final strides and finished in 44.74 seconds, the second place.

David Neville clocked 44.80 seconds and secured Team U.S.A. the bronze.

This has been the seventh time that American athletes won the men's 400m gold consecutively at the Olympics.

Defending champion Jeremy Wariner and David Neville. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)