SYDNEY - American 400 metres world champion Jeremy Wariner suffered a surprise loss to Australian Daniel Batman over 200 metres at the Sydney Grand Prix meeting on Saturday.
Jeremy Wariner of the U.S. runs in the men's 200m event at the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix February 16, 2008. Wariner suffered a surprise loss to Australian Daniel Batman over 200 metres Saturday.[Agencies]Batman led from the start and the Olympic 400 metres gold medallist never threatened to overtake him, the Australian winning in a time of 20.81 seconds to Wariner's 20.93.
"He's proven that he's a champion so anytime you can take a scalp like that it's an honour," Batman told reporters.
"But in saying that it's February, a long way from the competitive European season."
Wariner was unconcerned by his loss.
"This is really just a tune-up race for me to see where I'm at with my training and what I need to work on," he said.
Australian Matt Shirvington won the 100 metres, edging out Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown after both clocked a modest time of 10.43 seconds.
World 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica pulled out of the event with a knee injury but is due to run in Melbourne on Thursday.