Beijimg: Olympic champion Aries Merritt stormed into the world 110 metres hurdles final with a gutsy display yesterday in his penultimate race before undergoing a kidney transplant next week.


USA's Aries Merritt (right) and Jamaica's Omar McLeod compete during the 110 metres hurdles semi-final heats yesterday. Pic/AFP 

The 30-year-old American clocked a season's best 13.08 seconds to win his semi-final in the quickest overall time for today's final in Beijing, but he faces a tougher battle on September 1 when he undergoes surgery.