Benjamin Dominates at Mt. SAC Relays with Impressive Win in 400m Hurdles
Benjamin Dominates at Mt. SAC Relays with Impressive Win in 400m Hurdles

Rai Benjamin started 2023 with a remarkable performance at the Mt. SAC Relays, winning his signature event, the 400m hurdles, with a World Leading time of 47.74. The Olympic and World Championship silver medalist took control of the race right from the opening gun shot, quickly making up the stagger and taking a one-meter lead on the largely collegiate field by the start of the backstretch.

Benjamin continued to widen the gap from there on, finishing first with an impressive lead over the second-place finisher, Cass Elliot of the University of Washington, who finished with a time of 49.65 and was 10 meters behind Benjamin at the finish line. Shakeem Smith of the Bahamas finished fourth in 50.09.

ALSO READ: Rai Benjamin, who was born in Antigua and whose father played cricket for West Indies, switched allegiance to the USA

Benjamin’s time of 47.74, which was a meet record, beat the previous world lead by a full second. This incredible performance comes just a few weeks after Benjamin’s outdoor campaign began with a hurdle-less 400m run in 44.94 on April 1st, and only a week after his 44.21 finish at the USC Trojan invite.

Michael Norman, Benjamin’s fellow Nike athlete and countryman, also competed at the Mt. SAC Relays. Norman tested his speed in the 100m dash despite a +3.0 tailwind. Norman finished third with a time of 10.03, behind Cravont Charleston (9.87) and Kyree King (9.98).

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Is a budding freelance Journalist. He worked for news outlets like Capital News Service, a news wire based out of the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism, where he graduated from with a Master's in Journalism. He has an undergraduate degree in communications from Bowie State University, where he served as Deputy Managing Editor for the schools official Newspaper: The Spectrum. He has also contributed to newspapers like The Washington Afro American, Montgomery County Gazette and the Takoma/Silver Spring Voice. Auburn has a strong passion for Athletics, particularly events 800 meters and under( and their corresponding relays).

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