In the men’s 400m, at the at Meeting Region Guadeloupe held at the Stade de Baie-Mahault, Lashawn Merritt, the defending Olympic champion, delivered a world leading 44.73 in his season opener. Merritt, who had compatriot Angelo Taylor on his outside, went out very fast and was very strong entering the home straight, before easing across the line ahead of Luguelin Santos of Dominican Republic (45.29). Taylor was third in 45.31secs.