Admin l Friday, July 02, 2021
OSLO – Norwegian star, Karsten Warhom has broken the World 400 metre hurdles by setting a new record of 46. 70 at the Oslo Bislet Games, the season’s fourth Wanda Diamond League.
Speaking at the pre-event press conference, Karsten Warhom said, “Your competitors are what really push you towards bigger things. If it was only me running quick times, I wouldn’t need to push it any further, but with people there running fast times, I need to take a step up as well.”
Warholm was greeted with a wall of cheers and chants of ‘Karsten, Karsten’. Lining up in his lucky lane seven with Brazil’s Alison dos Santos to his left and France’s Ludvy Vaillant on his right, Warholm blasted from the blocks. He had clearly closed the stagger by the first barrier and was well ahead going into the final bend. Clearing the final hurdle – the one which he so slightly clipped in the final stages of his 46.87 in Stockholm – there were no other barriers in his way as he roared over the finish line with his arms spread wide to a time of 46.70 on the clock.
Dos Santos was second, improving his South American record to 47.38, and Turkey’s Yasmani Copello was third in 48.86. With Sydney McLaughlin having clocked 51.90 at the US Olympic Trials on Sunday, it means both the women’s and men’s world records have been broken within the same week.
Fans will not have long to wait until the next instalment in what is proving to be a top rivalry, as Warholm and Benjamin will be going head-to-head at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on 9 July.
