American sprinter La Shawn Merritt has run the fastest 400 meter time in the world this year at the Tyson Invitational meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The 18-year-old Merritt won Friday night's race in 44.93 seconds, more than a second quicker than the time he ran last week (45.94), which had been the best this year. Bershawn Jackson and Andrew Rock were second and third, completing a United States podium sweep. Reigning indoor world champion Alleyne Francique of Grenada was fourth.
Kenya's Bernard Lagat won the mile race with the third-fastest indoor time ever, finishing in 3:49.89 minutes. That cut three seconds off his Millrose Games time of last week.
Other men's winners were American Jason Smoots in the 60 meters (6.54), his countryman Allen Johnson in the 60 meter hurdles (7.51) Wallace Spearmon of the United States in the 200 meters (20.44), Alistair Cragg of Ireland in the 3,000 meters (7:40.53) and Miguel Pate of the United States in the long jump (8.16 meters).
In women's competition, two-time Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell of Jamaica ran the fastest 60 meters of the year and set a meet record at 7.09 seconds. Danielle Carruthers captured the 60 meter hurdles in 7.98 seconds. American women were also winners in the 200 meters, DeeDee Trotter 23.19 seconds, 800 meters Hazel Clark 2:02.68 minutes and pole vault Mary Sauer 4.35 meters.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.