Alison dos Santos Aims for Historic 400m Hurdles Season

Alison dos Santos could complete the greatest single season in men's 400-meter hurdles history with a victory at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest on Sunday. The 26-year-old Brazilian is undefeated in 2026, having won all seven of his races and broken Karsten Warholm's world record with a 45.80-second run in Zurich on August 27.

According to an analysis by LetsRun.com, dos Santos has recorded six sub-47-second races this season, which is the most ever in a single year. This surpasses the previous record of five, set by Karsten Warholm in 2023. His season average time of 46.59 seconds is second only to Rai Benjamin's 46.56 from 2024, though dos Santos will have contested twice as many races by the end of the campaign.

The Case for a Historic Season

If dos Santos wins in Budapest, he would secure an undefeated season for the sixth time in the last eight years for one of the event's 'Big Three', dos Santos, Warholm, and Benjamin. The article suggests Warholm's 2021 season, featuring two world records and Olympic gold, was previously the benchmark. However, the sheer volume of dos Santos's fast times in 2026, capped by his world record, presents a compelling argument for the new top spot, especially if he runs another sub-47-second time in the final.

The 400m hurdles has a history of dominant, undefeated campaigns, most notably Edwin Moses's streak of over nine years. Moses's 1983 season included 15 wins, a world record of 47.02, and the inaugural world title.

Warholm and Benjamin Remain in Form

While dos Santos has been the standout performer, his rivals have also posted strong results in 2026. Karsten Warholm has run under 47 seconds five times this year, a tally that would equal the pre-2026 seasonal record. Rai Benjamin, who has focused more on the flat 400 meters, has raced the hurdles only once but ran 46.67 in Lausanne. He also ran 43.83 for the flat 400, making him the fastest specialist hurdler ever in that event.

Benjamin discussed the rivalry with LetsRun.com in Budapest. He called dos Santos's 45.80 world record "crazy" and praised the Brazilian's courage in Zurich. "The thing about the three of us is, we always raise," Benjamin said. He acknowledged the world record is a target for him, stating, "Am I capable of doing it? I definitely have the foot speed and the strength this year, right now, to do it."

Benjamin's Ambitious Double Attempt

Rai Benjamin is attempting a demanding double at the World Ultimate Championships, contesting both the 400 meters and the 400-meter hurdles. His schedule requires four races in three days.

Benjamin, the reigning world and Olympic champion in the hurdles, initially planned to only run the flat 400m this year. He decided to attempt the double after a successful trial in August, where he ran 46.67 in the hurdles in Lausanne and 43.83 in the flat 400 just two days later in Silesia. The final hurdle for the historic season will be cleared, or set, when the three rivals meet on the track in Budapest.