James & Merritt to Clash at Drake Relays
The organizers of the 2014 Drake Relays have set up a special treat for fans on April 27. The Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada and the World champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States will clash in the men´s 400m race.
Both athletes have faced each other nine times in their careers in the one lap race with the Grenada´s James winning Merritt on five occasions and Merrit in four. Last time when both athletes were on the same race was last year on August 28 at the Diamond League meeting Weltklasse Zurich, when Merritt defeated James with a time of 44.13 seconds.
Both quarter-milers last year took top spots in the world season list in the 400m with Merritt topping the chart with 43.74 seconds and James in 2nd with his PB mark of 43.96 seconds.
Besides Merritt and James, at least 15 more world and Olympic games and World championships medallists will participate in Drake relays on April 23 - 27.
Merritt and James All Time Head to Head Stats
|
Event |
Meet |
LaShawn Merritt |
Kirani James |
Date |
| 400 m | Weltklasse ZurichDL | 44.67 (2) | 44.36 (1) |
2011-09-08 |
| 400 m | Pre Classic Eugene OR DL |
44.91 (1) | DQ |
2012-06-02 |
| 400 m | Hercules Monaco DL |
DNF | 44.76 (2) |
2012-07-20 |
| 400 m | Diamond Shanghai | 44.60 (2) | 44.02 (1) |
2013-05-18 |
| 400 m | Pre Eugene OR DL | 44.32 (1) | 44.39 (2) |
2013-06-01 |
| 400 m | Areva Saint-Denis DL |
44.09 (2) | 43.96 (1) |
2013-07-06 |
| 400 m | World Championships Moskow | 43.74 (1) | 44.99 (7) |
2013-08-13 |
| 400 m | Weltklasse Zurich | 44.13 (1) | 44.32 (2) |
2013-08-29 |
| Wins: | 4 | 5 |
