Columnist: Jeremy Wariner doesn't handle losing with grace

[GTF]

EUGENE, Ore. -- Jeremy Wariner skipped the traditional victory lap after the men's 400 team was determined Thursday at the U.S. Olympic trials, leaving winner LaShawn Merritt and surprise third-place finisher David Neville to soak up the adulation of the crowd at Hayward Field.

Wariner, the 2004 Olympic 400-meter champion and two-time world champion, also skipped the post-race news conference. That left an empty seat next to Merritt and Neville, whose 44 seconds flat and 44.61 were sandwiched around Wariner's 44.20.

To lose is forgivable. To sulk is not.

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To be fair, it does seem odd for anyone other than the victor to take a victory lap.

[Ryan]

Agreed. So the second place finisher didn't take the victory lap with the actual victor. Big deal. Also, does this columnist know the story behind his not being at the news conference? Maybe there was a reason for it. Maybe it wasn't sulking. Not saying he's a gracious loser but these two things don't make him a poor loser without something more substantial behind them.