London (AFP)
We can not stop Karsten Warholm: the Norwegian hit hard at the London Diamond League meeting by spitting his own European record of 400m hurdles (47 sec 12), just one month after having seized , and marked its territory in the light of the Doha Worlds (September 27 - October 6).
By focusing on the two nuggets of the discipline, the Qatari Abderrahman Samba (23 years old) and the American Rai Benjamin (21 years old), holders of the 2nd and 3rd performances of all time, we had almost forgotten the Norwegian . But as the season approaches, Warholm keeps sending messages to his rivals, signaling that he will have to rely heavily on him.
On June 13 in Oslo, the Viking had erased tablets Stéphane Diagana to seize the best time continental (47 sec 33), 24 years old. On the scene of his 2017 world title, the Norwegian has done better and was simply untouchable. Starting in Hall 7, his favorite, the 23-year-old outshined all his opponents, topping the lead well before half-time, before finishing with almost two seconds ahead of Turkey's Yasmani Copello (48 sec 93) . Impressive.
The strong and charismatic Warholm (1.87 m, 80 kg), equally at home on the 400 m flat which he is co-recordman of Europe indoors (45 sec 05), took the opportunity to settle at the top the global balance sheet by dislodging Benjamin (47 sec 16).
- World record in danger -
"I always try to surprise but at the same time, it's not easy," he said after his feat, "it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and it costs me a lot to get out of these extraordinary times. It was not the perfect race, I touched the 5th hurdle and I stomp on the 10th, so there is still a margin, I feel really good, but at the same time, there is still a lot of time before the Worlds.
With Warholm, Samba (personal best at 46 sec 98) and Benjamin (47 sec 02), the 400m hurdles come out of several years of lethargy and the clash between the three men is likely to be one of the highlights of the next World's Championships. With a line of sight for this trio of very big caliber, the world record of the American Kevin Young (46 sec 78 in 1992).
"I do not know where all this will lead me," said Warholm, questioned about his ability to dislodge Young.The world record, it's scary but it's true that I get closer.
The performance of Warholm eclipsed the other events of the meeting, which overall did not give rise to spectacular performances, except the best time of the year on 100 m hurdles managed by Jamaican Danielle Williams (12 sec 32).
- Amos and Echevarria wounded -
A week after a staggering lap of 800 m in Monaco (1 min 41 sec 89), the 15th of all time, the London public expected a lot of Nijel Amos. But the Botswana injured his right leg and had to stop his race after 200m. Evacuated on a wheelchair, however, he was optimistic for the rest of the season. "There is nothing serious," he said with a smile.
At length, the duel between Luvo Manyonga and Juan-Miguel Echevarria, also in pursuit of the world record, owned by Mike Powell since 1991 (8.95 m), also did not take place. After feeling a hamstring pain during the warm-up, the Cuban prodigy (20 years old) preferred not to take any risks in the World Cup, leaving the way open to the South African world champion, winner with a jump to 8.37 m, his record of the year.
Hit on the ankle in Rabat on June 16th, Manyonga reassured herself.
"I was a little scared and was holding back to start," he said, "at first I needed to test my ankle but when Tajay Gayle (2nd, ed) jumped 8,32m, I I said that the competition could start and I focused on my technique. "
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