BERLIN - Norfolk State alum Chris Brown placed fifth in the men's 400 meters on Friday night at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships.

Brown ran a time of 45.47 seconds. Reigning Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt won the gold medal in 44.06 seconds.

Brown, a three-time Olympian representing the Bahamas, placed fourth at both the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and at the last outdoor world championships, in Osaka in 2007.

Brown will also run a leg on the Bahamanian 4x400 meter relay team at this year's world championships. Heats begin on Saturday. WIth Brown running anchor, the Bahamas won the silver medal in the event at last summer's Olympic Games.