Mount Vernon NY native Rai Benjamin will compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games in two weeks, and he has the best chance at winning a gold medal for Westchster. Benjamin was a national high school champion in the 400 Meters and the 400 Meter hurdles before attending college at the University of Southern California, USC.
At the U.S. Olympic trials held on June 26, he ran the second fastest 400 meter hurdles EVER at 46.83 seconds. The fastest 400 meter hurdles time ever was recorded back in 1992 by American Kevin Young who ran a 46.78. Young’s record has stood up for almost 30 years, but Benjamin feels good about his chances at winning the Gold and breaking the record.
“I know it’s there. I just have to tweak some more things. … I can run so much faster. I know it. I can feel it. I felt really strong coming home.” And falling just short of the all time record is “just more fuel for the fire,” said Benjamin.
While the favorite in the 400 meter hurdles, Norway’s Karsten Warholm and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba, could easily win Gold.
The 24 year old graduate of Mt. Vernon high school, Benjamin is the son of Winston Benjamin and Jeanette Mason, who were both born in Antigua. Benjamin will aslo compete in the 400 Meter run.
Good Luck Rai! We will be watching!
