Once again, there was an impressive lineup in the final of the men's 400m hurdles final at the 2022 World Championship held in Oregon, USA. Certainly, with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic podium of Karsten Warholm of Norway, Rai Benjamin of the USA and Alison Dos Santos of Brazil, there was anticipation of a repeat presence of those individuals at the World Championship final. The field was completed by Trevor Bassit of the USA, Wilfred Happio of France, Khalifah Rosser also of the USA, Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica and Rasmus Magi of Estonia. Indeed, there was great anticipation, expectations and in the end, disappointment. Would Warholm defend or would Benjamin or Dos Santos ambush him and capture the top podium spot?
Warholm starts fast
At the firing of the starter's gun, Warholm got out with his trademark explosive start as he tried to disconnect the field early as he did in Tokyo. His two arch-rivals, Alison Dos Santos and Rai Benjamin, were to his outside and to his inside, respectively; they both tracked Warholm closely like a bloodhound, and with well-distributed speed. It appeared Warholm was making some in-roads on Dos Santos on his (Warholm’s) outside, but the latter quickly responded from lane 6, with aggression and pace. Rai Benjamin, who was on his inside, and occupying lane 3, made up the stagger on what appeared to be a tiring and race-rusty Warholm.
At about the 300m mark, Warholm, Dos Santos and Benjamin were in close contention with each other. However, as they came down the homestretch, it was clear that Warholm's inadequate preparations for the Championship were having a toll on him; he was fading fast, even as Dos Santos and Benjamin were in their ascendancy. Little by little, Dos Santos began to move away from his arch-rivals and the chasing pack.
Championship record for Dos Santos
Dos Santos crossed the finish line in a Championship Record of 46.29, the third fastest time in history, while Rai Benjamin and Trevor Bassit were second and third in times of 46.89 and 47.39, respectively. These were the podium finishers on this occasion as Karsten Warholm, the Olympic and defending World Champion was displaced and replaced by the American Trevor Bassit who secured the bronze medal.
Alison Dos Santos has performed extremely well all season and has lived up to expectations. He was undefeated in all 400m hurdles races this season and had a world leading time 47.23 coming into the Oregon World Championship. Benjamin had to play second fiddle once again, even as Karsten Warholm finished in a disappointing seventh place.
It was clear that Warholm was severely hampered by the hamstring injury that he sustained weeks prior to the Championship. Interestingly, Trevor Bassist of the USA, Wilfred Happio of France and Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica, all recorded Personal Bests. Wilfred Happio of France finished fourth in 47.41, Khalifah Rosser of the USA finished fifth in 47.88, Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica finished sixth in 48.03, Karsten Warholm of Norway finished seventh in 48.42 and Rasmus Magi of Estonia finished eighth in 48.92.
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Henley Taylor
Freelance Sportswriter
henleytaylor1965@gmail.com
Edited by Raymond Byfield
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