City Council:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK
RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING
RAI BENJAMIN
Whereas, Rai Benjamin was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY. He attended Mount Vernon High School, where he excelled academically and established his track and field career. Rai was the fastest 2015 prep time in the United States in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 49.97; the fastest 400-meter indoor time in the country with a 46.59, and the third fastest outdoor time with 46.19; and
Whereas, Rai is a professional hurdler and sprinter who is an inspiration to the youth of Mount Vernon while exhibiting the physical and mental discipline required to achieve at this level; and
Whereas, his Mount Vernon Family is proud of his representation for the United States in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games held in 2021 and, most recently, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In 2021 he won the silver medal in the Men’s 400-meter hurdles and a gold medal in the Men’s 4 x 400 meters relay; and
Whereas, in Paris, Rai competed again in the same two disciplines, winning gold in the Men’s 400-meter hurdles, besting his longtime rival. Additionally, he won his second gold medal of the games, anchoring the Men’s 4x 400-meter USA relay team; and
Whereas, continuing to hone his craft at the University of Southern California (USC) and later at the University of California Los Angeles, where he received All-American honors from the NCAA; and
Whereas, Rai Benjamin ran for the UCLA Bruins and then the USC Trojans in early 2018, he was part of the team that set the world's best time in the indoor 4 × 400-meter relay with a time of 3:00.77. In June of the same year, he also helped set the NCAA record in the same event but outdoors and ran what was at the time the second fastest 400 m hurdles race of all time in 47.02; and
Whereas, the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon acknowledges the unprecedented achievements of Rai Benjamin, on all his accomplishments; Now, Therefore, be it
Resolved, the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon, NY, do hereby officially recognize the unprecedented athletic achievements of Rai Benjamin for his recently awarded gold medals from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where he earned his first gold medal in the Men’s 400-meter Hurdles and his second gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay; be it further
Resolved, the Mount Vernon City Council and the residents of Mount Vernon, NY, congratulate Rai Benjamin on renaming Memorial Field Plaza to the “Rai Benjamin Plaza.”