Double Olympic champion Rai Benjamin delivered another statement performance on Friday evening, with a meeting record of 46.93 seconds to win the men’s 400m hurdles at the Diamond League stop in Paris. The American, fresh off a resurgent start to his season, displayed impeccable form in his third race of the year.
The race showcased depth in the field, with Abderrahman Samba clocking a season’s best 47.09 for second and Bassitt also registering a season’s best 48.14 in third. Brazilian Matheus Lima followed closely with 48.26, while Great Britain’s Alastair Chalmers posted a 48.57. Fantin Crisci set a new personal best of 49.40, with Hugo Menin rounding out the field in 51.42.
Final Results
- Rai Benjamin (USA) – 46.93 MR
- Abderrahman Samba (QAT) – 47.09 SB
- Trevor Bassitt (USA) – 48.14 SB
- Matheus Lima (BRA) – 48.26
- Alastair Chalmers (GBR) – 48.57
- Fantin Crisci (FRA) – 49.40 PB
- Hugo Menin (FRA) – 51.42
Rai Benjamin, who opened his campaign in Oslo with a runner-up finish behind Karsten Warholm in a newly sanctioned 300m hurdles world-record run, followed up days later with a 46.54 world lead and meet record in Stockholm, the 10th fastest time in history.
His commanding display in Paris confirmed Rai remains one of the most formidable forces in the event, confidently building momentum ahead of the World Championships later this year.
Having often played second fiddle to Karsten Warholm and Alison dos Santos in recent seasons, Rai Benjamin’s 2024 resurgence, crowned by Olympic gold in Paris, is a powerful reminder of his elite status.
Rai Benjamin, with two World Championship silvers and a Budapest bronze, now eyes his first individual world title this season.