Olympic 400 metre champion Jeremy Wariner isn't being boastful when confidently predicting very fast times for 2005. On the contrary, Wariner explained, exceptionally fast performances will be nothing short of an absolute necessity just to qualify for the US team for next August's 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Helsinki, Finland.

"It's going to take a very fast time to make it the World Championships," said Wariner, who led teammates Otis Harris and Derrick Brew to a sweep of the Olympic podium last August in Athens. "I think mid to low 44 won't make the team. I think three of us are going to run under 44."

The young athletes are hungry

Of the ten men who ran 44.72 or faster last year, seven were Americans. In the past month, two new stars - both still teenagers - emerged to add more names to the already deep mix: LaShawn Merritt, and Kerron Clement, who both dipped under the 45 second barrier indoors, with Clement setting a surprise World indoor record of 44.57.

Yet even with Clement, who said last week that he'll focus primarily on his main event, the 400m Hurdles, out of the immediate picture, competition in the full-lap this year in the US will be nothing less than staggering.

"The young athletes are starting to step up now," said Wariner, himself barely 21-years-old. "The young athletes are hungry."

Wariner said he was impressed with the exploits of Merritt and Clement this winter and was well aware of their feats over the past few seasons, particularly Clement, who he watched several times while the new world record holder was competing in high school in Texas.

"With these guys running so fast so early, I'm going to have great competition this year."

Relay record under threat

"We have so much talent this year," Wariner continued. "Honestly, I think the 4x400 World record is in jeopardy." If things go well, "2:53 is possible, maybe lower," Wariner said. "Just lots of talent," he reiterated. "Lots of people will be left out because of that."

But Wariner has no intention of being left behind. Fully rested after taking the indoor season off competitively, the Baylor University student said he's well ahead of his physical condition of 12 months ago.

"I'm coming along better than this time last year," he said. "I'm already stronger and quicker than last year. My turnover is a lot faster, my foot speed is a lot faster. So I'll have better turnover coming off the last turn."

His training regimen hasn't strayed at all from that which led him to NCAA, U.S. Olympic Trials and Olympic titles last year.

Putting on muscle

"I'm doing the same workouts day in and day out, each year. I'm doing the same things Michael [Johnson] did," he said, referring to the world record holder who is now Wariner's manager. While their running styles were similar, due mainly to coach Clyde Hart's mentorship of both, the primary difference, Wariner said, was Johnson's stronger physique.

"Right now, we're working on trying to get more muscle," Wariner said, adding that he spends three days a week in the weight room. "(Johnson) had a lot more muscle, so he had more strength at the end of the race."

Wariner said his Achilles heel is in the race's latter half, something that he and Hart are focusing particular attention to.

"I'm more of a sprinter type 400 runner, I have to get that pace earlier." The toughest part of the full-lap, he said, is running hard on the second turn. "(Hart) says that lots of runners use that part of the race as a rest. He says I should use that to my advantage."

Heart in Hart

Like Johnson before him, and his current training partner Darold Williamson, who anchored the US to the 4x400 gold in Athens, Wariner places his full faith in Hart.

"Coach Hart has said that he as a coach, he has not mastered the 400. Every year, he learns something new. So that taught me: don't ever think you're the best."

Individual 400m opener on 23 April

After a few early season relay appearances, including one last weekend at Baylor's Dr. Pepper Invitational and another at next weekend's Texas Relays, Wariner said he's planning his first open 400 at the Michael Johnson Classic at home in Waco on 23 April, followed by another at the Drake Relays on April 30. He also has appearances scheduled at the Modesto Relays in early May and the Home Depot Invitational in Carson, Calif. before his first European race of the year at the Golden Spike Super Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic in early June. This weekend, he'll compete over the half lap at the University of Texas at Arlington Invitational, one of "a couple" 200s he said he'll contest this year.

Johnson's mark is the target - Maybe even under 43

Even an assault on Michael Johnson's World record of 43.18 may be on the not-too-distant horizon.

"That's the goal for me this year," Wariner readily confirmed. "Coach and I talked about it last semester, and he believes it can be done this year, if not next year. It's a great possibility."

Wariner said Johnson, who he sees as another mentor, is somewhat noncommittal about his prospects to claim his record.

"I think he thinks I can (break the record), but he doesn't want to admit it. I think he wants to hold on to it a little bit longer."

Like most athletes, he won't say how fast he could go. After all, that would simply define a self-imposed limit.

"There's no telling (how fast), especially with the competition right now. We're all just going to do what it takes. Maybe even under 43."