Teenager James wins 400m gold for Grenada

Kirani James

DAEGU, South Korea,  (Reuters) – Teenager Kirani James  chased down defending champion LaShawn Merritt on the home  straight to win 400 metres gold and Grenada’s first medal at the  world championships today.
James, who turns 19 on Thursday and has run just a handful  of senior races after winning a string of junior titles, surged  past American Merritt just before the line to claim victory in a  personal best time of 44.60.

Kirani James
Kirani James

Olympic champion Merritt, who has just returned from a  21-month ban for doping, had come round the final bend with what  looked like a comfortable lead before being beaten by James’s  finish.
Merritt took his second world championship silver medal in  44.63 with Belgium’s Kevin Borlee, whose twin Jonathan was also  in the final, claiming bronze in 44.90.