Sometime last fall, double world record holder Michael Johnson told Olympic 400 meter champion Jeremy Wariner that staying on top will prove to be a much more difficult task than the climb to the top. At next weekend's adidas Track Classic in Carson, California, the 21-year-old Texan will face his first significant test when he'll face-off against the young season's two fastest quarter-milers --LaShawn Merritt and Andrew Rock.

His event, Wariner understated, is "definitely" coming alive this year.

"Last year we had five or six people in the 44s. And we're adding more this year. Just seeing all this young talent is kind of scary to some people."

But not to Wariner.

"It's more motivating knowing that there are people out to get me. I know I have to work harder." Wariner said while his goal is to become the first sub-44 runner since his mentor and manager Johnson retired from the event in 2000, he knows there are many others who realistically aspire to the same ambitions.

"I do see myself hitting 43 (seconds) this year," he said, before quickly adding, "but I also see others hitting 43."

Merritt, the 18-year-old prodigy who broke the 45-second barrier indoors last winter, cruised to a comfortable 44.66 win at last weekend's Jamaica International, just ahead of the 23-year-old Rock's 44.75. Yet thus far in his post-Olympic campaign, Wariner hasn't had to look far to find those who are "out to get him."

In his first two outings this spring, Wariner was beaten handily by training partner and fellow Olympic relay champion Darold Williamson. At the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Williamson edged his former Baylor University teammate 45.06 to 45.13; at the Drake Relays two weeks ago, Williamson's margin was even larger with his 45.24 to 45.42 win.

Wariner bounced back last weekend at the Modesto Relays, winning in 45.16 by more than a second. And for now, he doesn't seem particularly concerned with his defeats at the hand of his training partner and friend.

"With an indoor season, he's slightly ahead in his training," Wariner said, not offering an excuse, but simply acknowledging the facts while giving a blunt assessment of the races. "Darold's been able to work on other parts of his race. In the first race, he saw that I was easing up in the first part of the race and he took advantage of that. In the second race, he just out-kicked me. This next race I expect to do better."

While Williamson's been honing aspects of his race, Wariner has primarily been working on his strength.

"Right now I feel stronger than I did last year," Wariner said. "I have a little more muscle tone. I'm more or less the same weight, but just have more muscle." His coach, Clyde Hart, isn't particularly worried about his form, Wariner said, and has focused on building his lanky charge's power. "I just have to make sure that I have a lot of strength in the last 100."

In his first few outings, Wariner continued, "Coach [Hart] was looking at my times, not my place. It showed that I was ahead of where I should be." His only real weakness at this point in the season, he said, "Is making sure I run the back stretch like I'm supposed to." In his races thus far, Wariner said Hart was expecting a 21.4 split at 200 meters, and in each case he's come up a little short, ranging 21.6 to 21.9. "So we've really been working the back straight and approach to the turn."

After the meeting in Carson, Wariner will make his first European race appearance at the Golden Spike Super Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 9, and follow-up with his first-ever 300 meter race at the Meeting Lille Metropole in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France on June 12. Of the Lille race, he said, "My plan is just to run a 400 race pace, but go out like in a 200."

Wariner said that as a young fan and competitor, he remembers being awed by Johnson's accomplishments. "Seeing what he did in 1996 just shocked me." He found other athletes inspiring as well. "Just watching them celebrate after a race.. I wanted to feel that same feeling."

But so do others, and many will be in Carson.

If Merritt and Rock won't provide a strong enough early-season challenge, the loaded field at the Home Depot Center will present plenty of others who are waiting for their shot at the Olympic champion, Athens silver and bronze medallists Otis Harris and Derrick Brew among them. Jamaica's Olympic finalist Brandon Simpson, Bahamians Chris Brown and Dennis Darling, and Mitch Potter, another American, fill out the full throttle assault.

For Wariner, staying on top will be very difficult indeed.