Rai Benjamin hesitant to compete at Monaco Diamond League meeting

Rai Benjamin, the world and Olympic silver medalist, has been confirmed as one of the athletes set to participate in the prestigious EBS Herculis Meeting – part of the Wanda Diamond League – scheduled for July 21st. However, recent statements made by Benjamin on Twitter indicate his hesitance to compete in the Monaco Diamond League meeting.

In a tweet, Benjamin expressed his concerns about his current physical condition, stating, “I’d like to reiterate. I have not run in 8 weeks. I’ve just run 30 hurdles this weekend in 3 DAYS. I’m taking a couple of days to decide what to do next. It would be GREAT to line up in Monaco. But my health and body come first.”

Benjamin’s tweet sheds light on the challenges he has faced in his training regimen, particularly the lack of recent running and the strain his body has undergone during the intense hurdle sessions.

With his health and well-being as his top priority, Benjamin is carefully considering his participation in the upcoming Monaco Diamond League meeting.

Rai Benjamin gets Noah Lyles’ support

Two-time world champion Noah Lyles echoed the concerns by fellow countryman, commenting, “It sure does! Can’t run if you’re not healthy.”

Lyles’ statement, which was also shared on Twitter, emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one’s physical condition to ensure optimal performance when it matters on the big stage.

Benjamin is coming off an impressive victory at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene last weekend, where he claimed the US title with a time of 46.62 seconds, which is the second-fastest in his track and field career behind his North American record of 46.12 seconds.

The 25-year-old’s performance at Hayward Field was marginally faster than the 46.76 seconds by Karsten Warholm in his dominating victory at the Norwegian World Championships Trials, but short of the latter’s world-leading mark of 46.52 secs, set at the Oslo Diamond League meeting last month.

Alison Dos Santos set for shocking return

Besides Benjamin and Warholm, the talent-stacked men’s 400m hurdles field will also feature world champion Alison Dos Santos, who is set to make a shock return to competition after initially being ruled out for the entire 2023 campaign due to a knee surgery earlier this year.

The Brazilian athlete, who won the gold medal at the 2022 World Track and Field Championships, is aiming to test his fitness ahead of his title defense in Budapest in August.

Dos Santos is expected to put up a strong fight alongside USA’s CJ Allen and France’s Wilfried Happio, rounding out the impressive lineup.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone focusing on flat 400m

Meanwhile, the women’s open lap field at the 2023 Monaco Diamond League Meeting will feature world 400m hurdles record holder, and Olympic and world champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the USA.

After posting a world-leading and near American record of 48.74 secs to sit among the highlighted championships results at last weekend USATF Outdoor Championships, McLaughlin-Levrone will continue to focus on the open event in Monaco.