One of the sensations for Norwegian athletics in 2016 was the exciting development of Karsten Warholm. He started the season as a decathlete that dabbled in 400m and 400m hurdles. By the end of 2016, the twenty-one-year-old from Ulsteinvik had established himself as a major global threat at the 400m hurdles. Last season he broke the Norwegian record for 400m hurdles on numerous occasions. He achieved it at the European Championships in Amsterdam with a time of 48.84! Then he stepped up again at the Rio Olympics Games with another national record of 48.49 seconds and his only disappointment was to not earn a place in that final.
During the recent winter months, the former World Youth Decathlon Champion focused more on the one lap and broke 46 seconds for 400m indoors, whilst also establishing a new world record at the 300m hurdles indoors. At the IAAF Diamond League event, the Oslo Bislett Games on 15 June, Warholm will face a very stern test of character, ability and preparation.He will face, amongst others, the reigning Olympic and four-time World Champion Kerron Clement. The tall American has shown extraordinary consistency at major championships and first came to the spotlight in 2004 at the World Junior Championships. He won his first senior global title in 2007 (World Championships in Beijing) and has been a superstar in the event since then. Besides Clement, virtually the full field from the 400m hurdles Olympic Final in Rio will line up against Warholm.
This feature event of the 2017 Oslo Bislett Games will be viewed by a very special spectator. The absolute icon of the event, Edwin Moses, will be the guest of honor at Bislett stadium that night. Edwin Moses’s name is synonymous with the event. He was twice Olympic and World Champion, established new world records and at one stage of his illustrious career was unbeaten in 122 consecutive races. Moses redefined the event with his unique stride pattern and still holds the stadium and meet record at Bislett with a time of 47,67 set in 1979.
Here is the start list for the 400m at Oslo Bislett Games 15 june.
Name | Credential | RIO | PB |
Karsten Warholm (NOR) | World Record-Holder Indoor 300m hurdles | 9th | 48,49 |
Kerron Clement (USA) | Olympic Champion (Rio 2016) & four times World Champion | 1st | 47,24 |
Nicholas Bett (KEN) | Reigning World Champion 400m Hurdles ( Moscow 2015) | DNS | 47,79 |
Yosmani Copello (TUR) | Olympic Bronze medal Rio 2016 / Winner Bislett Games 2016 | 3rd | 47,92 |
Thomas Barr (IRL) | Irish record-holder / 4th in Rio Olympic Games 400mH | 4th | 47,79 |
Ramus Maggi (EST) | Estonian record-holder / 6th in rio Olympic Games 400mH | 6th | 48,40 |
Boniface Mucheri(KEN) | Olympic Silver Medal 400m Hurdles Rio 2016 | 2nd | 47,78 |
Kariem Hussien (SUI) | European Champion 2014 in Zurich | DNS | 48,45 |