2024 Monaco: Rai Benjamin wins 400mh showdown as Djamel Sedjati runs 1:41 again and Quincy Hall runs 43.80

Today’s ESP Herculis EBS Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco did not disappoint. Jessica Hull set a 2000m world record and Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran a 3:26.73 1500 pb to move to #4 all-time. Those races get their own recaps. We recap the rest of the meet for you below starting with the men’s 400 hurdles which featured a rare clash between the three fastest men in history.

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Men’s 400 Hurdles: Rai Benjamin outlasts Warholm and Dos Santos

In the first-ever clash of the three fastest 400 hurdlers in history not in a global of Diamond League final, American Rai Benjamin got the win as he pulled away from Karsten Warholm and Alison Dos Santos down the homestretch to win in 46.67 to Warholm’s 46.73.

In typical fashion, Warholm got out strong over the first half; but he wasn’t able to shake Benjamin and Dos Santos. Dos Santos actually landed first after hurdle 5 but he did not have a good close and ended up third in 47.18.

Benjamin tracked Warholm on the turn and really started to move on the homestretch as Warholm’s lead shank to from .21 at hurdle 8 to .12 at hurdle 9 to .04 at the final hurdle. But Benjamin had the momentum and the final 40 meters belonged to him.

Final

Men’s 800: Djamel Sedjati continues to dominate

It’s official. We have a new favorite for the Olympic 800.

Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati sensational 2024 campaign continued as he remained undefeated on the year and ran his second straight 1:41 – this time the clock stopped at 1:41.46 – a 0.10 improvement from Sunday’s race in Paris. In the process, he put a beat down on reigning world champion, Marco Arop of Canada. Arop took the lead on the backstretch but was passed by Sedjati who was way better than everyone else in the homestretch. Arop faltered greatly in the final 100 and only ended up 6th, although he ran the second fastest time of his career (1:42.93, pb is 1:42.85), as for the second time in five days a lot of people ran super quick.

Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui PRd by 2+ seconds to finish second in a new Spanish record of 1:42.04 (previous pb of 1:44.35) as France’s Gabriel Tual showed his 1:41.61 in Paris wasn’t a fluke by clocking 1:42.10 for 3rd. Kenya’s Aaron Cheminingwa, who ran 1:42.08 in Paris, ran 1:42.13 for 4th today while Ben Pattison. the world championship bronze medallist last year and British champ, lowered his pb by nearly two seconds from 1:44.02 to 1:42.27 but that only placed him 6th.

Quick Thought: The 800 has reached a new level

To understand how crazy good the 800 has been in recent weeks, consider this. Reigning world champ Marco Arop entered this race undefeated on the year. He ran a seasonal best and near personal best. It was only the second 1:42 clocking of his career and yet he finished just 6th in the race.

Ten men have now broken 1:43 on the year – which we think is easily the most in history. Here is how many men have broken 1:43 in every year dating back to 2012.

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2024 – 10
2023 – 2
2022 – 0
2021 – 1
2020 – 0
2019 – 3
2018 – 2
2017 – 0
2016 – 4
2015 – 3
2014 – 5
2013 – 1
2012 – 6

Counting today’s 1:41 run by Sedjati, only 20 times in history has a human being run 1:41 in the 800 but 5 of those runs have happened in the last 6 days as 4 were recorded on Sunday in Paris.

Only 8 men in history have run a 1:41 and Sedjati is now one of just 5 men to have done it more than once. Sedjati set a new record today – the shortest time between 1:41 clockings. Rudisha did it 7 days apart in 2012 while Sedjati’s run today was 5 days after he did it in Paris.

All Time Sub-1:42 Performers
David Rudisha 7
Wilson Kipketer 4
Emmanuel Wanyonyi 2
Nijel Amos 2
Djamel Sedjati 2
Seb Coe 1
Gabriel Tual 1
Joaquim Cruz 1

Women’s 5k: Tactical Race Gives Margaret Akidor Victory

22-year-old Kenyan Margaret Akidor won a heavily tactical 5k running a small personal best of 14:39.44. Almost the entire field was there at 400 to go but the Japnaese-based Kenyan had the quickest final 400 closing in 60.05 to take the win. Earlier in the year in Suzhou, Akidor, who was 7th at the Kenyan championships, also ran 14:39 but that only placed her 7th.

16-year-old Marta Alemayo, who won world cross country earlier this year for Ethiopia at age 15, made her Diamond League debut in 7th (14:43.38) as American 10,000 champ Weini Kelati was 9th in 14:44.91. Pre-race favorite Lilian Rengeruk, the only woman with a sub-14:30 pb and the 3rd placer in the Kenyan Trials in 29:26, fell later in the race and ended up 11th.

The Rest of The Sprints

Women’s 100: Julien Alfred is looking like a medallist

Julien Alfred is determined to upgrade her fourth-place finish from last year’s world championships–clocking 10.85 for the victory in a race that was never in doubt. Tamari Davis, who just missed the U.S. Olympic team ran 10.99 for second place.

Alfred’s time adjusts to 10.78 when you account for the 1.0 m/s headwind.

Final, Wind: -1.0

Men’s 110 Hurdles: Halloway returns to Monaco for another victory

In his second appearance at the Monaco Diamond League, Grant Halloway got his second victory–running 13.01. Behind Halloway were Americans, Cordell Tinch and Trey Cunningham; who finished in third and fourth place, respectively.

Final, Wind: -0.7

Men’s 200: Letsile Tebogo finds his rhythm

In the absence of Noah Lyles, Letsile Tobogo won handily; slowing across the line in 19.87. Tarsis Orogot, the Alabama standout finished in third place–crossing in 20.32.

Final, Wind: +0.6

Women’s 400: Rhasidat Adeleke takes home first Diamond League win

In yet another sub-50-second performance, Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke, the European silver medallist, once again got the best of the Netherland’s Lieke Klaver, the European bronze medallist, with a strong second half running 49.17 for the win, just .10 off her 49.07 pb. Klaver got a nice consolation prize as she lowered her pb from 49.81 to 49.64, the 4th sub-50 clocking of her career.

Men’s 400: Quincy Hall lays claim to being the Olympic favorite

US champ Quincy Hall announced himself to the entire world dropping .37 off his PB to run a world lead in Monaco. It was a great day for the U.S. as Vernon Norwood who will be in the U.S. relay pool finished in second with a 44.34. It was a bad day for previous world leader Christopher Morales Williams of Canada, as the NCAA indoor and outdoor champion finished back in 6th place in 45.11. Hall, who won the NCAA 400h title for South Carolina in 2019, is the U.S. champ and was third at world’s last year, and the first man to go sub 44 in 2024.

Field Events

Women’s Pole Vault: Nina Kennedy bests Molly Caudery and Katie Mooon

In the Women’s pole vault, Australian Nina Kennedy had the cleanest card and took the win with 4.88 m clearance.

Women’s Javelin: Kitaguchi gets the win

Haruka Kitaguchi, the defending world champion, threw a season’s best of 65.21m to claim the javelin competition.

Men’s Pole Vault: Hamish Kerr holds off Shelby Mcewen

Hamish Kerr equaled his personal best, jumping 2.34m to beat Shelby Mcewen, the U.S. champion. Juvaughn Harrison, last year’s silver medallist continues to struggle; only managing sixth place.

Women’s Triple Jump: Leyanis Perez Hernandez beats Thea Lafond

Leyanis Perez Hernandez and Thea Lafond continued their battle for momentum heading into the Olympics as Hernandez bested Lafond for the second time this season, jumping 14.96m; a new season’s best.

Final

Talk about the meet on our messageboard.

• Jakob is BACK BABY – 3:26.73!! Wow.
• I don’t believe Jakob is clean. injured and runs 3:26.7 a bit later? 
• Sedjati = obvious EPO cheat: 1:41.46 800 3
• Jakob Ingebrigtsen the MF Goat will run 3:26 in Monaco 
• 1500m record has only a 1 hour left 
• 3:26 jakob vs 3:29 kerr 
• 3:26.74 will be Jakob’s LIFETIME best.
• Yeah, Kerr ain’t winning
• After Jakob’s 3:26, Kerr’s chance of winning in Paris has INCREASED 
• 2000m is NOT a WR it’s a WB 
• I’m worried about Marco Arop 

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