LaShawn Merritt enters Thursday's 400m final at the IAAF World Championships with an eye on dethroning the reigning champion, Jeremy Wariner, just as he did at the Beijing Olympics last summer.

Icon's quarter-mile sensation qualified for the final with the fastest time run in the semis. Friday's race for world 400m supremacy is one of the most anticipated races in Berlin this year.

LaShawn finished his semi heat in 44.37, the world's best time in 2009 (IAAF.org)

As LaShawn explained, he feels very good about his chances.

Wariner of the United States looked very comfortable as he effortlessly won his semi in 44.69sec to book his spot in Friday's final.

But not to be outdone, his arch-rival, compatriot and Olympic champion Merritt blazed around the Berlin Olympic Stadium track in a world leader time of 44.37 secs to ensure the pair would go head-to-head again in the final.

"I feel good, that was a great race," said Merritt.

"I can't complain now I have a day off to get ready for Friday's final.

"Jeremy Wariner made the final and he is the main competitor, but there are six men in the final and I take them all seriously.

"Here in Berlin, the adrenalin is there: in a lot of races it has been missing.

"I am confident from coming here on the back of the Olympic title."

FINALS-BOUND
Icon sent several others athletes onto the finals of their respective events. Shawn Crawford will take on American Wallace Spearmon and Jamaica's Usain Bolt in Thursday's 200m title run, while Keith Moffatt will look to get to the podium in the high jump Friday.

Terrence Trammell looked very strong on Wednesday in his prelimary heat in the 110m hurdles (13.51), and is semi-finals bound. The semis and finals of the 110m hurdles are Thursday.

OTHER FINISHES
Angelo Taylor was knocked out of the 400m hurdles in the preliminary heats (49.64)...Damu Cherry finished third in her semifinal heat (12.76) but missed the final of the 100m hurdles by .03 of a second...Ajoke Odumosu reached the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles, but her 56.80 was not fast enough to get her into the title race...Oludamola Osayomi reached the quarter finals of the 100 meters, finished sixth (11.55)...Carol Rodriguez was eliminated in her preliminary heat of the 100 meters, finishing fourth with a time of 11.64.

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