BUDAPEST, Hungary (August 21) – The men’s 400m hurdles semifinals at the 2023 World Athletics Championships here at the National Athletics Centre witnessed some stellar performances, particularly from Karsten Warholm, Roshawn Clarke, Rai Benjamin and Alison Dos Santos.

Warholm Effortlessly Advances to Finals

Karsten Warholm, the Olympic champion and world record holder, delivered an effortless run in his semifinal heat, clocking an impressive 47.09 seconds. The Norwegian ace adeptly handled the humid conditions, securing his spot in Wednesday’s final with the day’s quickest time.

• Read more: Femke Bol leads women’s 400m hurdles semifinal qualifiers
• Read more: Men’s 400m heats: Gardiner, van Niekerk, James, Ingvaldsen eased through

Alongside him, Jamaica’s rising talent Roshawn Clarke set a new senior national record.

Warholm commented on his performance, stating, “There will undoubtedly be competitors aiming to challenge me, but today’s performance felt robust and on point.”

Clarke, only 19, not only set a new Jamaican record but also surpassed his own world U20 record, registering a time of 47.34 seconds.

This eclipsed his previous junior record of 47.85 seconds achieved at the Jamaica Outdoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year.

Benjamin Edges Out Dos Santos in Tight Finish

Rai Benjamin, the world and Olympic silver medalist, narrowly outpaced defending world champion Alison Dos Santos of Brazil in the second semifinal. Benjamin recorded a time of 47.24 seconds, just ahead of Dos Santos, who set his season’s best with 47.38 seconds.

In the first semifinal heat, Kyron McMaster, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion from the British Virgin Islands, led the pack with a time of 47.72 seconds. He was closely followed by Estonia’s Rasmus Mägi, who finished in 48.30 seconds.

Rounding out the qualifiers for Wednesday’s men’s 400m hurdles final are USA’s world bronze medalist, Trevor Bassitt, who achieved a personal best of 47.38 seconds, and Germany’s Joshua Abuaku, who secured the last spot with a time of 48.39 seconds.

PHOTO: Karsten Warholm of Norway in the Men’s 400m Hurdles semifinal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for World Athletics

Men’s 400m Hurdles Men – Semifinal Results

Semifinal Heat 1 Results:

1. Kyron McMaster (IVB) – 47.72 – Qualified (Q)
2. Rasmus Mägi (EST) – 48.30 – Qualified (Q)
3. CJ Allen (USA) – 48.44
4. Jaheel Hyde (JAM) – 48.49
5. Julien Watrin (BEL) – 48.94
6. Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR) – 49.22
7. Bassem Hemeida (QAT) – 49.50
8. Mario Lambrughi (ITA) – Disqualified (DQ) – False start

Semifinal Heat 2 Results:

1. Rai Benjamin (USA) – 47.24 – Qualified (Q) – Season’s Best (SB)
2. Alison Dos Santos (BRA) – 47.38 – Qualified (Q)
3. Ludvy Vaillant (FRA) – 48.48
4. Kazuki Kurokawa (JPN) – 48.58 – Personal Best (PB)
5. Emil Agyekum (GER) – 48.71
6. Wiseman Were Mukhobe (KEN) – 49.40
7. Zhiyu Xie (CHN) – 49.57
8. Julien Bonvin (SUI) – 49.75

Semifinal Heat 3 Results:

1. Karsten Warholm (NOR) – 47.09 – Qualified (Q)
2. Roshawn Clarke (JAM) – 47.34 – Qualified (Q)
3. Trevor Bassitt (USA) – 47.38 – Qualified (q) – Personal Best (PB)
4. Joshua Abuaku (GER) – 48.39 – Qualified (q)
5. Alessandro Sibilio (ITA) – 48.43
6. Yasmani Copello (TUR) – 48.66 – Season’s Best (SB)
7. Wilfried Happio (FRA) – 48.83
8. Gerald Drummond (CRC) – 49.31