Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States won the men's 400 meters title at the World Championships Friday.

Merritt clocked 44.06 seconds for the victory. His compatriot and twice defending champion Jeremy Wariner, also the 2004 Athens Olympic champion, finished second with a season best time of 44.60 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago's Renny Quow was third in 45.02.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2009)