Samba could break world record this summer, but anticipated showdown with Benjamin will have to wait until next year

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Abderrahman Samba might well break the oldest men’s track world record this year in the 400-meter hurdles, a prospect that became even more exciting Saturday in Paris when the 22-year old from Qatar ran the second-fastest time in history by clocking 46.98 seconds at the annual Diamond League meet.

But if Samba does eclipse the 1992 standard of 46.78 held by American Kevin Young, it won’t be with former USC star Rai Benjamin in the race.

Benjamin, who placed second in the 200 in Paris in a wind-legal personal-best 19.99, confirmed Saturday he won’t be racing the 400 hurdles again this year after setting the collegiate record June 8 by clocking 47.02, equaling Edwin Moses as the No. 3 performer in history.

“There’s no need for me for me to do 400 hurdles anymore. It’s been a long collegiate season and it’s time to rest up a bit, so I won’t be racing Samba until next year,” Benjamin told Mike Rowbottom of the IAAF.

“Of course, of course (it will happen) during the championships part of the season. But at the moment, I’m getting the best out of the circuit, and it’s toward the end of the season for me.”

Benjamin had the opportunity to run the 400 hurdles Saturday, but decided instead to compete in the 200 against former USC teammate and future roommate Michael Norman, who prevailed in a wind-legal 19.84.

“It shows that I can bring that speed to the 400 hurdles and I can run a pretty fast time, but I’m not worried about running the 400 hurdles anymore this season,” Benjamin said. “I’m pretty much done with it for now until next season, but 19.99 shows I have speed and that combination should make for some pretty fast times.”

Samba prevailed against Kyron McMaster, who set a national record for the British Virgin Islands by running 47.54 to equal the No. 18 performer in history, as well as reigning world champion Karsten Warholm of Norway (48.06).

“It was impressive running,” Benjamin said. “But I was not surprised at all, because if you run low 47s consistently all year, it’s only a matter of time before you dip below 47. So no, I was expecting it.

“Maybe me showing up here kind of helped to motivate that a little bit.”

Although Benjamin, 20, has dual nationality with Antigua and Barbuda, he remains unable to represent to the United States in international competition since his attempted transition has come at a time when the IAAF has placed a temporary freeze on allegiance transfers. Benjamin was born in New York and has lived in the U.S. his entire life.

Benjamin remains optimistic about competing for the Americas in the third IAAF Continental Cup, scheduled for Sept. 8-9 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The other three teams are Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Samba is scheduled to race the 400 hurdles again Thursday against McMaster and Warholm in the next Diamond League competition in Lausanne, Switzerland.