PARIS: Defending champion Karsten Warholm safely advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s Olympic 400m hurdles after winning his heat at the Stade de France on Monday. Warholm, who set the world record when winning gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games, clocked 47.57sec in scorching early morning weather in Paris.

“I think this is the second-fastest heat I have ever done. It felt very good,” said Warholm, the three-time world champion. “Even running such a fast time, it felt very smooth. The time was surprisingly good.

“I slowed down at the last hurdle, so I am very surprised by the result. This time is almost the same as when I won the gold in Doha at the 2019 world championships. “But we also have the semi-final so I need to be smart.”

Also progressing with ease were the Norwegian’s main rivals for gold: American Rai Benjamin and Brazilian Alison Dos Santos. Benjamin eased up a full 30 metres from the line to win the opening heat in 48.82sec ahead of Jamaican Jaheel Hyde and Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands.

Dos Santos was a comfortable third behind heat winner Rasmus Magi of Estonia and American CJ Allen. The Jamaican pair of Roshawn Clarke and Malik James-King won the fourth and fifth heats in 48.17 and 48.21sec respectively.

Warholm said the depth in talent in the gruelling event was ever-widening, with Benjamin and Dos Santos both running fast times this season — and beating the Norwegian — and several more hurdlers coming through.

“That tells me the gaps between us are very small and many of us can run really fast,” Warholm said. “We have three people who can run on the 46 second level: Dos Santos, Benjamin and me. “But behind us are many athletes pushing us. It will demand a lot to get to the final.” 

Benjamin said it had been good to get out and “knock the rust off and feel the energy out there because everyone’s been saying it’s been crazy”. Benjamin said teammate Noah Lyles winning 100m gold on Sunday, with Fred Kerley also grabbing bronze, had been “really inspirational”, calling on US fans to properly back Lyles.

“I just want to see him have more American support,” Benjamin said. “That is why we are all here. Getting people in the country behind you is important. We are the only ones who are wishy-washy towards our athletes.

“Noah’s outspoken, but I think this victory just proves that he backs it up every single time.” Turning to the hurdles, Benjamin, who won silver behind Warholm in Tokyo as well as two silvers and a bronze at the last three world champs, added: “I just want to win. I don’t really care about the time.

“The gold medal has been elusive to me this whole time. “If I win, great. And if I don’t win, I’ve already mentally prepared myself for that as well, too.” Dos Santos, who claimed bronze in Tokyo behind Warholm and Benjamin, said he was “feeling great”.

“It was a really, really easy round. The race was good, it was chill and exciting. “The track is really, really fast, so something good can happen out there.” Dos Santos added: “I still feel a little bit under the radar. I would say it’s because Rai is the world leader and Karsten is the Olympic champion, so they are the targets, everyone is chasing them!” The semi-finals are scheduled for 1735 GMT on Wednesday, with the final slated for 1945 on Friday. — AFP