Track is the most exciting sport in the Olympic games. No disrespect to swimming or gymnastics, but track is the pinnacle of the Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday night, the men’s 400m hurdle finals proved that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heading into the Tokyo Games, Norway’s Karsten Warholm held the world record at 46.7 seconds. His fiercest competition was Team USA’s Rai Benjamin, who clocked a 46.83 at the US Olympic Trials this past June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two sprinters, only 25 and 24 respectively, took to the track in the 400m hurdles final and gave us all the race of a lifetime. One that we should all be talking about for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warholm entered the blocks in lane 6. Benjamin in lane 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The buildup and anticipation, even this late on the east coast, was evident. Track fans could felt the electricity surge as “set” was called. And when the gun sounded, we knew this was going to be special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 400m hurdles is one lap of full hell, made even more painful by ten unforgiving hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But to Warholm and Benjamin, they might have well have been street curbs because they bounded over each one without breaking stride.<\/p>