Rai Benjamin

Rai Benjamin is an American track and field athlete born on 15th October 1993. He hails from Los Angeles city of California in the United States. Rai specializes in sprinting and hurdling and represents the USA in 400m sprints and hurdles.

Background

Rai Benjamin was born to Winston Benjamin and Jeanette Mason. His father is a former international cricketer who played 106 matches for West Indies between 1986 and 1995.

Rai had shown his athletic interest at a young age. He went to Mount Vernon High School in New York, where he had a New York Indoor State Meet record in 300m. While representing his high school team, Rai became 3-time NYSPHSAA Champion in 400m Hurdles. He was also High School National Champion in 400m and 400m Hurdles.

After graduating from high school, Rai Benjamin joined the University of California, where he became a member of the athletics team of UCLA Bruins. Later, he transferred to the University of Southern California’s USC Trojans. He had represented both the teams at NCAA Championships.

At the University of Southern California, Rai Benjamin is pursuing a degree in Political Science.

Rise to Glory

Rai Benjamin made his national debut at the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he finished 6th in 400m Hurdles while representing UCLA Bruins. The following year, he won the Silver medal in 400m Hurdles at the NCAA Championships.

In 2018, while representing USC Trojans, Rai won the 4x400m indoor title and a Bronze medal in 200m sprints at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships. That year, in June, he clinched the double Gold medal in 400m Hurdles and 4x400m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

In 2019, Rai Benjamin shot to national fame after he emerged as 400m Hurdles US champion at the US Outdoor Track and Field Championships. That year, in June, he won the 400m Hurdles title at the Prefontaine Classic.

Rai Benjamin is recorded as the joint 3rd fastest hurdler in the men’s 400m Hurdles (46.98) in the world.

Major Achievements

Rai Benjamin made his international debut in 2013 at the World Youth Athletics Championships, where he finished 15th in 400m Hurdles semi-finals. In 2015, he competed in the 4x200m relay at the World Athletics Relays but couldn’t qualify for the final after his relay team didn’t finish the relay in the semi-final. In both the championships, Rai had represented Antigua and Barbuda.

In 2019, Rai was a part of the US relay team that became the World Champions in the 4x400m Relay and also won a Silver medal in 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships. That year, he earned two circuit wins in 400m Hurdles at the Diamond League.

Rai Benjamin will look to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics through US Olympic Trials and shall be one of the contenders to win a medal in 400m Hurdles.