BEIJING -- Former Virginia high school champion LaShawn Merritt of Portsmouth easily advanced into the finals of the Olympic 400-meters. Merritt, 22, the winner of the U.S. Olympic trials 400 over defending world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, turned in a time of 44.12 in winning his heat Tuesday night.

The finals matchup between Wariner and Merritt -- perhaps the best rivalry still alive in the Olympic track meet -- is set for Thursday night at Beijing's Bird's Nest.