Jeremy Wariner has set the year’s world best time in the 400 meters at the Gaz de France.

He beat his rival LaShawn Merritt who came second.

“I executed the race like I wanted to,” said Wariner, the world and Olympic champion. “Everything is flowing. My finish is strong. It is a great time.

“Now I am not going to Stockholm. I am going home to train hard.”

In other events, Dayron Robles won the 110 meter hurdles, putting further pressure on Chinese favorite Liu Xiang.

“I was here to go under 12.90,” Robles said. “The time is pretty perfect. I love to run in Paris. In Beijing, I will take the races one by one until the final.”

In the men’s 400 meter hurdles world champion Kerron Clement took first place, Danny McFarlane from Jamaica came in second and Angelo Taylor finished third. Bershawn Jackson who was in the lead with Clement until the last hurdle, finished fourth.

Read more: Wariner cruises to world-best time of 2008 in 400 meters