Doha (AFP)

An anthology race in perspective? With Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin and Abderrahman Samba, the final of the 400m hurdles, Monday in Doha, promises to be one of the highlights of the World Athletics with the sights of the three phenomena, the old world record of Kevin Young (46 sec 78, in 1992).

- Karsten Warholm: the crazy Viking -

The Norwegian had become world champion in 2017 in London in relative anonymity. But this year he arrives in Qatar with a different status. At only 23, the sturdy Warholm (1.87 m, 80 kg) took a new dimension by beating the European record three times, increased to 46 sec 92 on August 29 in Zurich, which makes him the 2nd performer in history, just that.

The mischievous Viking with offbeat humor, accustomed to departures cannons, is also able to shine on the flat as proved the European title won last winter indoors in Glasgow with a continental record equal (45 sec 05).

Difficult under these conditions to define its limits. "I do not know where it's going to lead me in. The world record is scary, but it's true that I'm getting closer to it," he said in London in July.

But before thinking of overtaking Kevin Young, Warholm must first master his two great rivals Samba and Benjamin. A perspective that begins to stress as the fateful deadline approaches.

"I'm a bit nervous and I think everyone can understand why, there's going to be a final we've been talking about for a long time, the level is very high and I'm going to have to work for a chance to win," he explained in Doha.

- Rai Benjamin: the jack of all-all -

The native of Mount-Vernon (USA) is a versatile runner, equally at home on the 400m flat (personal best in 44 sec 31) and the 200 m (RP in 19 sec 99). After starting his career under the colors of Antigua and Barbuda, where his parents are from, Benjamin (22 years old) opted for the USA in October 2018. Four months ago, he had achieved a fire record ( 47 sec 02), his first major feat of arms.

He did even better this year in Zurich (46 sec 98) but he had the misfortune to come across a Warholm unleashed. A defeat that served as a lesson.

"I lost sight of him during the race," he said, "I thought he was close to me and then I saw that he was very far ahead, it was technically a mediocre race for me. I should be less conservative next time and not hold myself back as much as I did. "

- Abderrahman Samba: the pride of Qatar -

The 24-year-old hurdler is one of two stars in Qatari athletics with world champion high jump Mutaz Essa Barshim. Born in Saudi Arabia to a Mauritanian father and a Saudi mother, Samba was naturalized in 2016. He broke out in the face of the athletics planet on May 4, 2018 at the Doha meeting, descending for the first time under the 48 seconds (47 sec 57) before signing two months later a prodigious time in Paris (46 sec 98).

According to the former French world champion Stéphane Diagana (1997), interviewed by AFP, Samba has a "lower potential" on the flat than Warholm and Benjamin but "it's still very high level and it's quite extraordinary to see an athlete of this caliber without references in the youth categories ".

But Samba, who dreamed aloud of the world record at the beginning of the season, approached these Worlds at home weighed down with questions. Injuries (hip, thigh) have removed him from the tracks and his last race dates back to July 12th. Second in his semifinal behind Benjamin, he appears much further back than the other two contenders for the world crown. Perhaps he will be able to count on the awakening of the local public, for the moment not passionate about these World Championships and who has struggled so far to complete the Khalifa stadium.

© 2019 AFP