American Rai Benjamin fired out an Olympic broadside by trumping Norwegian rival Karsten Warholm at the line to claim victory in the 400m hurdles at the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday.
The hurdles featured a battle between the three fastest men in history, as Benjamin, Warholm and Brazilian Alison Dos Santos met for a rare head-to-head clash on the eve of the Paris Games.
It was only the second time since the Tokyo Olympics, when Warholm set a world record of 45.94 seconds in winning gold, that the trio competed in the same race.
The last time was the Diamond League finals in Eugene last year when Benjamin edged out Warholm in the men’s 400m hurdles.
It was a similar story in Monaco, Benjamin tracking the fast opening pace of Warholm and overhauling him from the 10th and final hurdle to the finish line.
Benjamin claimed the victory in 46.67sec, with Warholm in second 0.06sec behind. Dos Santos was third in 47.18sec.
The American’s winning time was just off his own world-leading mark of 46.46sec and the Diamond League record of 46.39 he set in Eugene last year.
Warholm’s meet record of 46.51sec was also untroubled.
“I did not run the race I wanted to execute, but it was all about getting in and seeing what do I have in me,” said the Los Angeles-based Benjamin, who is not a regular face on the circuit in Europe.
“I did not run the home straight as strong as I usually do, but that is OK as I won. I still need to get back home and prepare for the rest of the season.
“Paris is going to be madness. I have to win there. I believe I can do it. I will go back home and try to get as sharp as possible.”
Dos Santos, who claimed bronze in Tokyo and went on to win gold at the 2022 world championships in Eugene, said he had been “really, really happy with the opportunity to be part of this clash of the bests”.
“It was great and it is always exciting, we ran a great time so I am really excited for the next one.”
Dos Santos said it would be back to the drawing board in the build-up to the Paris Olympics, where three-time world champion Warholm will be looking to defend his title.
“My coach and I were trying to work on the first part of the race, the beginning was aggressive and I also finished strong,” he said.
“We learned a few little things and we know what we need to adjust to do better for the next one. No matter how healthy you are, no matter how fast you are running, you always need to show up. We are always giving 100 percent.”
