[imagesource: Christine Olsson / Reuters]

When it comes to long-distance running records, the game has completely changed over the past two years.

During that time, the world record times in the marathon, half-marathon, one-hour run, 10 000m and 5 000m on the track have all been broken, among others.

For more on why that’s the case, read this great breakdown, but other world records are still clinging on for dear life.

Take for example the 400m hurdles world record, which has stood since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where American Kevin Young ran 46,78 seconds.

The 28-year-old record is now the longest-standing record in men’s track running, but Norwegian Karsten Warholm is edging ever closer.

In August, the 24-year-old ran a 46,87 in Stockholm, after clipping the final hurdle, and he knows how close he was to making history.

Here’s CNN:

“I was really, really happy of course with the race in itself. But stumbling into the last hurdle and just looking at the time, knowing that most likely I spoiled my chances of a world record right there … I think I’ve never felt that way before.”

Just after the 42-second mark, you’ll see that stumble on the home stretch:

Still annihilated the competition.

Young says he’s ready to see his world record broken, and it’s far from a one-man race, too.

Warholm has the second-fastest time in history, but both Rai Benjamin and Abderrahmane Samba have run sub-47-second races this year, and the three know they’re within touching distance.

“This is going to be really, really tough competition-wise,” says Warholm…

“I think in 400m hurdles we are in for a real treat because everybody wants this right now. I think it’s going to be like the moon race between the United States and Russia — it’s going to be crazy.”

…”I’m thankful for my competitors — even though I want to beat them, of course.”

He might be taking some liberties comparing the quest for the men’s 400m hurdles world record to the space race, but you can’t fault his enthusiasm.

South Africans will be keeping an eye on the men’s 400m events, as Wayde van Niekerk plots his return to the top, so let’s add the men’s 400m hurdles as one to look out for, too.

[source:cnn]