Former Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner will miss this month's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea because of a foot injury. The 27-year-old runner is a key member in the US Olympic and world 4x400m relay wins. Wariner tore a ligament in the second toe of his left foot while training in July. The extent of the ailment wasn't diagnosed until last week.
"Right now my focus is to get healthy, prepare for next season, and try for my second 400m Olympic gold medal in the 400," Wariner said.
Wariner, the world's top-ranked 400m runner in 2010, has been plagued by minor injuries this season. Wariner won the Olympics 400m title in Athens, in 2004, and followed that with World Championships wins in 2005 and 2007. He was runner-up to fellow American LaShawn Merritt at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships. Wariner is expected to be replaced on the US team by fourth-placed trials finisher Jamaal Torrance at the World Championships, which take place between August 27 and September 4, 2011.
Wariner’s coach described his injury as “turf toe” and said it does not allow Wariner to push off the foot the way he needs to. Doctors have advised Wariner to take a couple months off to let the injury heal completely. Wariner had already pulled out of a meet last weekend in London because of the injury, which causes him pain each time he pushes down on the foot. "He can't run on it. He just can't go," his agent Deon Minor said. The injury will not require surgery but may take 12 weeks to recover from.
"I am disappointed that I will not be able to try to regain the world title in the 400 meters in Daegu. I wish my teammates the best in Daegu," Wariner said.
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