BUDAPEST, Hungary (August 20) – The top competitors advanced from the men’s 400m hurdles heats during Day 2 of the 2023 World Athletics Championships here on Sunday. Alison Dos Santos, Karsten Warholm, and Rai Benjamin all easily progressed to the semifinals.
Brazil’s reigning world champion Dos Santos, gearing up for competitive form post-surgery this season, led the pack with the day’s fastest time of 48.12 seconds in the first heat. The returning champion has not run a lot this season so he will be using the early rounds to get ready for the final.
“It was a nice race. I am feeling strong. I am feeling healthy and I ready to run faster,” Dos Santos told reporters. “I am not going let go of my world title.”
Ludvy Vaillant of France followed closely in the same heat here, securing his spot in the next round with a time of 48.27 seconds.
Read more: Men’s 400m heats: Gardiner, van Niekerk, James, Ingvaldsen eased through
Norway’s Olympic champion and world record-holder Karsten Warholm clocked 48.76 seconds, settling for second place in the third heat. France’s Wilfried Happio edged him out with a time of 48.63 seconds.
U.S. champion Rai Benjamin, a two-time world championships silver medalist, dominated the fifth and final heat, finishing in 48.35 seconds. Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde trailed behind with a time of 48.63 seconds.
Notably, the top six finishers from this heat all clocked under 49 seconds, ensuring their progression to the semifinals.
Other athletes advancing from the heats included Germany’s Joshua Abuaku with a personal best of 48.32 seconds, and Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands, who won the second heat in 48.47 seconds.
Jamaican champion Roshawn Clarke, with a time of 48.39 seconds, USA’s CJ Allen at 48.36 seconds, and world bronze medalist Trevor Bassitt, who clocked 48.73 seconds, also secured their spots in the semifinal round.
Men’s 400m Hurdles Heats Results
Heat 1 Results:
- Alison Dos Santos (BRA) – 48.12 – Qualified (Q)
- Ludvy Vaillant (FRA) – 48.27 – Qualified (Q) – Season’s Best (SB)
- Julien Bonvin (SUI) – 49.19 – Qualified (Q)
- Zhiyu Xie (CHN) – 49.25 – Qualified (Q) – Season’s Best (SB)
- Matic Ian Guček (SLO) – 49.40
- Constantin Preis (GER) – 49.45
- Abdelmalik Lahoulou (ALG) – Did Not Finish (DNF)
- Assinie Wilson (JAM) – Did Not Finish (DNF)
Heat 2 Results:
- Kyron McMaster (IVB) – 48.47 – Qualified (Q)
- Rasmus Mägi (EST) – 48.58 – Qualified (Q)
- Trevor Bassitt (USA) – 48.73 – Qualified (Q)
- Wiseman Were Mukhobe (KEN) – 49.10 – Qualified (Q)
- Sergio Fernández (ESP) – 49.26
- İsmail Nezir (TUR) – 49.92
- Eric Cray (PHI) – 50.27
- Kazuki Kurokawa (JPN) – 50.90
- Andrea Ercolani Volta (SMR) – 52.69
Heat 3 Results:
- Wilfried Happio (FRA) – 48.63 – Qualified (Q)
- Karsten Warholm (NOR) – 48.76 – Qualified (Q)
- Bassem Hemeida (QAT) – 49.50 – Qualified (Q)
- Alessandro Sibilio (ITA) – 49.50 – Qualified (Q)
- Dany Brand (SUI) – 49.69
- Pablo Andres Ibañez Guevara (ESA) – 50.01
- Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan (IND) – 50.46
- Marc Anthony Ibrahim (LBN) – 50.62
- Malique Smith (ISV) – 50.86
Heat 4 Results:
- Joshua Abuaku (GER) – 48.32 – Qualified (Q) – Personal Best (PB)
- CJ Allen (USA) – 48.36 – Qualified (Q)
- Roshawn Clarke (JAM) – 48.39 – Qualified (Q)
- Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR) – 48.47 – Qualified (Q) – Season’s Best (SB)
- Julien Watrin (BEL) – 48.72 – Season’s Best (SB)
- Mario Lambrughi (ITA) – 49.05 – Season’s Best (SB)
- Vít Müller (CZE) – 49.37
- Yusaku Kodama (JPN) – 50.18
Heat 5 Results:
- Rai Benjamin (USA) – 48.35 – Qualified (Q)
- Jaheel Hyde (JAM) – 48.63 – Qualified (Q) – Season’s Best (SB)
- Kazuki Kurokawa (JPN) – 48.71 – Qualified (Q)
- Gerald Drummond (CRC) – 48.73 – Qualified (Q)
- Yasmani Copello (TUR) – 48.92
- Emil Agyekum (GER) – 49.00
- Shakeem Hall-Smith (BAH) – 49.61
- Árpád Bánóczy (HUN) – 50.31 – Personal Best (PB)
- Jun Jie Calvin Quek (SGP) – 50.53
Click here for more from the men’s 400m hurdles on the World Athletics website.
