The IAAF World Athletics Championships continue in Doha on Monday and Rai Benjamin looks value to claim gold in the men’s 400m hurdles final.
Although he faces defending champion Karsten Warholm around a lap of the track, the American has the speed to catch the front-running Norwegian.
Warholm likes to attack his races and, while he is the world leader this year with 46.92 seconds, Benjamin is next.
There is just 0.06 seconds between them on their fastest times of 2019. Benjamin also has a slight height advantage over Warholm and thus a longer stride.
No other man has dipped below 47 seconds in the 400m hurdles this year, so that strongly suggest it’s a battle between them for gold.
Warholm is odds-on favourite with bookmakers to win but looks worth taking on because of his running style.
Although the stadium in Qatar where the World Athletics Championships are taking place is air conditioned, the oppressive heat is still a factor.
A Scandinavian athlete like Warholm isn’t getting his ideal climate. Benjamin, meanwhile, clearly has flat speed with a sub-20 seconds personal best for the 200m.
Rai Benjamin can improve again
Someone with a turn of foot off the final hurdle could reel Warholm in. This is a classic battle between pace and endurance – elements that are both essential in great 400m hurdles athletes.
While Warholm is clearly the best in Europe, the American track and field team are flying at the World Athletics Championships.
The USA have four golds and as many silvers already, topping the medal table from China. Best odds of 11/4 with BetVictor say Benjamin wins the men’s 400m hurdles.
Host nation athlete Abderraham Samba completes the likely medallists yet he must improve on his season’s best by three-tenths of a second in order to get anything other than bronze.
With so little to choose between Warholm and Benjamin on the pick of their form, the latter looks worth siding with.
An eight-time all-American and three-time NCAA champion, Benjamin is the product of the ultra-competitive US collegiate system.
It’s a well-trodden path that has proved a springboard to success for many athletes. Benjamin has all the attributes to improve and take the title.
Bet of the Day: 11/4 with BetVictor, Rai Benjamin wins men’s 400m hurdles gold.
