Track & Field | November 16, 2017

Junior All-American hurdler Rai Benjamin is in his first season as a track athlete at USC after transferring from UCLA.  Last season, Benjamin took second in the NCAA 400m hurdles final running a PR of 48.33, which was just .01 second behind the winner.  Benjamin's time matches USC's school record, set by Olympic gold medalist Felix Sanchez in 2000.  He also won the 2017 Pac-12 400m hurdles title.  Being that it is Rivalry Week, it seemed fitting that we caught up with Benjamin now.
 
Q:  Have you felt welcomed in your first year at USC?

RB:     Yeah, I knew some people already on the team, so it wasn't that hard of a transition. I knew Ricky (Morgan Jr.), I knew Zach Shinnick, who actually took a visit to UCLA and I was his host. I knew Mike (Norman) from high school because we raced each other. I knew quite a few people on the team, so it wasn't that bad of a transition for me.

Q:  How have you been able to balance student life and academics with track and field?

RB:     I think I've done that. I think it's a bit harder here because being that it's a private institution, the classes are smaller and they require you to pay more attention. I've definitely had to pay more attention in class and be a better student as a whole. Workouts are a little different here than they are at UCLA, and they took me a while to get adjusted, but I think I've acclimated to everything.

Q:  What inspired you to initially be a sprinter and a hurdler?

RB:     I started hurdling when my high school coach needed extra points for our sectional meet and I said I'd do it. In terms of sprinting, I've always liked running fast and competing and beating other people.

Q:  When did you think you could go to a university for your talent?

RB:     I would say my freshman year of high school. We took a trip to the Arcadia Invitational. I ran pretty decent leading up to that, but we had some seniors who were 10 times faster than me. I didn't necessarily get to run, but I ran fast enough to make that team. When I got there, I saw these guys running really fast and I wanted to be that. I thought that if I kept working hard and doing what I've been doing, then I'll get there.

Q:  Do you have any pre-race rituals?

RB:     I think I actually adopted one this past season. When we'd get to the hotel the night before the meet, my roommate and I would watch Friends and Family Guy on TBS, and we've done that ever since. I'd say that's a ritual, even though it started late. I would also say that I make sure I'm relaxing and staying off my feet the night before, going through the race in my head.

Q:  Do you have any goals for this season?

RB:     Definitely to win nationals: indoor and outdoor. I got nipped at the line, so winning this year would be special. I'd like to win the 200, which is what I'm working on. But overall, I just want to keep improving.

Q:  Have you ever tried any other races or events?

RB:     I haven't done anything outside the 400 hurdles. I don't think my body can handle running for longer distances. Hurdling was hard for me at first. It's really hard to learn, and I'm still working on it because I don't have the best hurdle form. I lean toward the sprinting and hurdling events because those are the ones I can get the most points in.

Q: What are your post-college plans?

RB:     Track has a shelf-life, so I want to get as much as I can out of it right now and into the future. Other than that, I just want to experience new things, travel, meet new people, stuff like that. It's always been a dream of mine to run track post-college, so I could see myself doing that.