Bislett (Netavisen): Carsten Warholm sent real terror to his 400m hurdles rivals when he ran 46.52 during the Bislett Games – the second-best Sunnmøring time ever.
Ray Benjamin, who may become Warholm’s fiercest competitor for the gold medal in Budapest, ran 47.74 as his best result of the season.
– Don’t calm down seeing that
Warholm doesn’t think his rival liked what he saw at Bislett on Thursday.
– I don’t think he’s “crazy” about it, and I get that. It’s never cool to sit at home and watch someone offer such time. For me, it’s very good, and send a scary shot, showing that I’m really on fire. I think the guys might have thought a little more about it today, Warholm tells Netavien.
Norway’s other contender for gold, world champion Alison dos Santos, has suffered a knee injury this season and the World Cup was expected to continue without the Brazilian.
But last week, the counter-notice came from the company’s 23-year-old agent via NRK.
– It was a surprise to me, says Warholm.
– I wonder what kind of shape he’ll get back into. It would surprise me if it was as good as last year, after going through something like that, but you never know, continues Warholm.
We can get an idea of who is in top condition ahead of the World Cup when Dos Santos and Warholm are due to feature in the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21.
– It’s going to be a tough duel
Despite a strong start to the season, Warholm is quite clear that he is by no means taking any Budapest gold beforehand.
– It will be a tough duel and we will all work for it. I do not benefit in any way from these gold medals yet. Of course, I have a very good feeling that it is there.
However, he is sure that he has laid a good foundation for training all winter long.
– It was a great training winter. I feel like I got all the answers saying I feel better than ever, but you still have to come here and do it. Today I feel like I’m getting a really good result, says the 27-year-old.
Warholm had a very difficult restroom recovery in Eugene last year, when he sustained a hamstring injury at the start of June. The 27-year-old stiffened during his run in the World Cup final when dos Santos became world champions ahead of Benjamin.
The Norwegian is still the world record holder in the distance, having achieved 45.94 during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
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