Merritt would welcome Bolt to 400m

Merritt would welcome Bolt to 400m Berlin - Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt would welcome sprint superstar Usain Bolt with open arms if he really decides on a switch to the 400 metres.

"I am happy that Usain Bolt is moving up to the 400m next year. I am always looking for good competitors," the United States runner Merritt said after winning his heat at the world championships on Tuesday.

Bolt famously won three Olympic golds in world record time at the Beijing Olympics and on Sunday claimed the 100m world title in Berlin with a stunning world record of 9.58 seconds.

The 22-year-old Jamaican's 200m world record stands at 19.30 and if expectations will be high that he can lower Michael Johnson's record of 43.18 seconds from the 1999 worlds if he runs the 400m.

Bolt, who is originally a 200m runner, has suggested on several occasions that he may run 400m in the future, without giving a definite date.(dpa)