Rai Benjamin took a rare loss at 400 meters, but due to an incredible sub 46 second race from a California junior in Michael Norman at the Arcadia Invitational last weekend. It was part of a busy first 2 weeks of April traveling (competed week prior to Arcadia at Carifta Games in St. Kitts & Nevis) for the New Balance Nationals indoor champion Benjamin, who finally got back to racing and training at home in New York for this weekend's 11th annual New York Relays. He bounced back in a record breaking way on Friday.
In just day one of competition on Friday from Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island in New York City, the Mount Vernon (NY) senior Benjamin broke two meet records. In his first 400 meter hurdles race of the year, the reigning New York state champ in the event, literally cruised including shutting it down in the final stretch to a US #2 meet record time of 53.91.
Benjamin was easing up in the 400 hurdles because he still had the 200 meter prelims later in the evening, which will be one of the premier finals on Saturday from the New York Relays. Benjamin wasted no time setting the tone to the other preliminary round qualifiers in the event including national class sprinters Anton Porter and Richard Rose that he expects to be the man to beat in the finals in not only posting a meet record time of 21.25 in the trials, but also making him the high school facility record holder in the 200.
- Watch More New York Relays Day 1 Race Videos
- Watch New York Relays Day 2 LIVE
- Rai Benjamin's Athlete Profile
