Americans Crush Diamond League on way to Olympics
Shot by: Herculis, Diamond League
It has been a busy summer for American sprinters Rai Benjamin, Quincy Hall and Grant Holloway, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team earlier this month and competed in the diamond league event this afternoon. Going against some of the best in the world these three showed that Paris will be something special for the American team.
This Diamond League event took place Friday, Jul 12. in Monaco.
The 400-meter hurdles were the main event this afternoon, featuring the three fastest men in history in this race. Rai Benjamin, Alison dos Santos and Karsten Warholm, all former world champions and Olympians, got ready to give the crowd a show. These three have a history going back to the previous Olympics and will see each other again this August.
A battle that pushed Benjamin and Warholm past the world record, with Warholm coming out as the first man to ever dip under 46 seconds in the event and a gold medal.
But Benjamin had to let the competition know it’s his year, continuing his undefeated streak going into Paris. Crossing the line with Warholm right on his tail the clock read 46.67 seconds. It was another first-place finish for him while also being the first American of the day to go out and win an event.
Giving a glimpse of what's to come in Paris these three left it all on the track. In another hurdle event, one more American came out on top.
Shot by: Herculis, Diamond League
Grant Holloway, the three-time world champion and officially the second fastest man ever in this event. He came into the race the favorite holding the world lead in the event and as he crossed the finish line it was another top tier performance.
The clock showed 13.01 as he leaned through the line giving him first place and another win before Paris.
Shot by: Dan Vernon, Diamond League
Finally, the 400-meter race, this one led by two Americans Quincy Hall who finished first at the Olympic trials and Vernon Norwood who finished fourth. The race also featured the Canadian Olympic trial champ Christopher Morales Williams.
Hall and Norwood controlled the race through the first half, but it was clear that Hall had another gear he planned to hit. Getting closer to the final stretch Hall was leading and pulling away from Norwood fast.
Watching you could see the determination on Hall's face as he churned through the line setting a new world lead and personal best.
Running a time of 43.81.
Showing constant improvement through his last couple of competitions, Hall has put the world on notice that Paris is his for the taking. Of course, he still has a couple of weeks before the big event but with this pattern we should see another time drop. Only time will tell as they head off to Paris for the start of the track and field events on Aug 1. at the Stade de France.
