Some American athletes called to shine at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer, such as Rai Benjamin or Sydney Mc Laughlin-Levrone, took part in the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut (California) on Saturday.
Rai Benjamin, Sydney Mc Laughlin-Levrone, Dina Asher-Smith… Several American and international athletes called to shine at the Paris Olympic Games this summer made their return to school on Saturday in Walnut (California), in the joyous bazaar of Mt. SAC Relays and their school and university competitions.
The rustic Hilmer Lodge stadium is teeming with athletes of all ages who, while waiting for their race, shelter from the sun in the row of tents marked with the logo of their high school or university. Between two white canvases, the discerning eyes of a few selfie-hunting runners can spot stars of the track.
The American Olympic 400m hurdles vice-champion Rai Benjamin, for example, achieved a convincing 400m comeback in 44 sec 42. Also Olympic champion and double world champion with the American 4x400m relay, Benjamin (26 years old) will aim for the gold at the Games individually in the 400m hurdles, after being beaten by the Norwegian Karsten Warholm in Tokyo in 2021 after a legendary race.
“I just hope to progress from my current good form, I know it will improve during the season, and I hope to stay healthy”commented the one who already went to Paris last week for an event of his equipment manufacturer, and to attend the first leg of the Champions League football between Paris SG and FC Barcelona.
“Models”
Her compatriot Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m hurdles, made her expected return to the slopes in Walnut. The 24-year-old hurdler had not raced since July 2023, having withdrawn from the Budapest World Championships in August 2023 due to a knee injury.
McLaughlin-Levrone had an entertaining start to the school year by competing in a 4x100m relay with teammates Jenna Prandini, Kendra Harrison and Morolake Akinosun. His team «Team Kersee»the group of the historic American coach Bob Kersee, lost in 42 sec 92 against an international quartet led by the British Dina Asher-Smith (42.03), while ahead of the Ivorian selection of Marie-Josée Ta Lou.
An anecdotal result for athletes who still have three months of work ahead of them before the Paris Games.
“It’s nice to be back, to hear the starter’s gun, to put on a competition outfit before returning to the hurdles”commented Kendra Harrison, Olympic vice-champion in the 100m hurdles.
“It’s nice to run with high school or university students who look at us as models”smiled the 31-year-old athlete.
Unlike Europeans, American athletes fed the university system (competitions between April and June) like to start their summer season by multiplying the races from the spring on meetings whose lower level is the charm.
“Ultimate goal”
Dina Asher-Smith, twice Olympic medalist and six times at the Worlds, discovered it after joining the Floreal group in Austin (Texas) this winter.
The 2019 world champion in the specialty took 3rd place in the 200m in 22 sec 80 (no wind) behind Saint-Lucian Julien Alfred (22.58), world champion in the 60m indoor this winter, and the Irishwoman Rhasidat Adeleke (22.61), his two training partners.
After three seasons at the University of Eugene (Oregon), Frenchwoman Shana Grebo (23 years old) is used to the US rhythm. On Saturday, she made three starts (4×100 m, 400 m hurdles in 56 sec 71, 4×400 m).
“This is the third year I’ve been coming, I remember the first time having stars in my eyes, we saw Allyson Felix and Dalilah Muhammad”said Grebo, who dreams of Paris, his “ultimate goal”.
“I like the way it works here. I am in the right place with the right people to achieve this goal.”
