Rai Benjamin Will Be Honored With Homecoming Motorcade

MOUNT VERNON, NY — An Olympic hero will return to his alma mater on Friday to celebrate his triumphs on the world stage.

Rai Benjamin will be honored with a motorcade, starting at Mount Vernon High School and winding through the city, giving the community a chance to thank their hometown champion in person. The parade route will culminate with a stop at Mount Vernon City Hall where Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard will recognize Benjamin's victories.

The events will kick off at noon on Friday. Police, fire trucks and city vehicles will join Benjamin, students and city officials as the motorcade makes its way toward city hall, arriving at 2:15 p.m. for a public celebration and an indoor ceremony in the rotunda at 3 p.m.

After a bittersweet second place victory in the 400-meter hurdles, Benjamin anchored the Team USA relay squad to victory on the final day of the Tokyo games.

Benjamin became a favorite to win the 400-meter hurdles event after qualifying for Tokyo by winning by more than 1 second in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon with a time of 46.83. His time was .05 seconds away from the world record time set nearly three decades ago.

"It hurts a little bit to know that it was right there and I couldn't grab it," Benjamin told TeamUSA at the time. "But it's just more fuel for the fire. It'll come when it comes."

In the medal heat, Benjamin broke that record, but it was only good enough for silver. He finished with a time of 46.17, but was edged out by rival Karsten Warholm from Norway who finished with a time of 45.94.

SEE ALSO:

• Mount Vernon's Rai Benjamin Proves To Be Gold Anchor
• Mount Vernon's Rai Benjamin Becoming Fast Favorite In Tokyo
• Rai Benjamin's Hunt For Olympic Glory Goes Down To The Wire