Expect a fast time in men’s 400m hurdles at World Champs

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RAYMOND GRAHAM - STAR Writer

September 03, 2025

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Karsten Warholm

Roshawn Clarke

ONE of the events that will draw huge attention at this year's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo is the men's 400-metre hurdles. A world record could very well be in the making.

It will be a grand showdown between Norway's Karsten Warholm, the world record holder with 45.94 seconds, Rai Benjamin of the United States, and Alison dos Santos of Brazil. All three have gone under 47 seconds this season, so fans are in for a treat.

Warholm, who returns to the stadium where he broke the world record in 2021, is the world leader with 46.28, set in Poland. Santos is close with 46.54 from Stuttgart, while Benjamin clocked 46.65 in Eugene.

The rivalry has been intense all season. In Stockholm, Benjamin defeated both Warholm and Santos. In Eugene, Santos got the better of Benjamin. Warholm, however, showed strong form by winning the Diamond League final in Zurich with a meet record of 46.70. He now heads into Tokyo confident as he seeks to defend the title he won in Budapest two years ago. Victory would also bring him a fourth crown, adding to his wins in London 2017 and Doha 2019.

It will not be easy. Santos, the 2022 World champion in Eugene, wants redemption after finishing third in Paris. Benjamin, the Olympic champion and winner in Stockholm this year, will also be determined to secure his first World title.

This clash is truly titanic. With all three at their best, the world record is under real threat.

Jamaica will have three representatives -- Roshawn Clarke, Malik James King, and Assinie Wilson. Clarke almost grabbed a medal in Budapest, finishing fourth with Santos behind him. He was also eighth at the Paris Olympics. With a season's best 48.02 to win the National Championships, he carries Jamaica's hopes. James King, with 48.28, and Wilson, with 48.42, will look to rise to the occasion.

While Warholm, Santos, and Benjamin appear locked for the medals, others could challenge the top guns. Abderrahman Samba of Qatar has clocked 47.09, Ezekiel Nathaniel of Nigeria, the NCAA champion, has 47.31, and Caleb Dunn of the USA has 47.76.

It should be an extremely close race among the top three. Returning to the stadium where history was made, Warholm gets the slight edge to win his fourth World title.