American Rai Benjamin clipped a hurdle and was briefly disqualified, but was eventually reinstated Friday as a first-time 400-meter hurdles world champion.

Rai Benjamin of the USA wears a crown after winning the men's 400-meter hurdles final Friday at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Photo by Mast Irham/EPA UPI

Sept. 19 (UPI) -- American Rai Benjamin clipped a hurdle and was briefly disqualified, but was eventually reinstated as a first-time 400-meter hurdles world champion Friday in Tokyo.

Benjamin battled Norway's Karsten Warholm, the world-record holder (45.94), throughout the beginning stages of the World Athletics Championships event at Japan National Stadium.

"I'm happy I came out here and got the job done, finally," he said on the NBC Sports broadcast. "I got another major championship individually under my belt. I can sleep well tonight.

Warholm slammed into the slammed into the third hurdle, but was even with Benjamin on the seventh. The American then dug for a final surge out of Lane 7, creating space in front of the Norwegian.

Benjamin scorched past the 200-meter mark and held a large lead on the field before clipping the 10th and final hurdle with his left foot. The collision resulted in his hurdle making contact with Nathan Ezekiel's hurdle.

Track rules state that athletes are disqualified if they directly or indirectly knock down or displace hurdles in another lane in a manner that they impact or obstruct other athletes in the race.

"When that fatigue sets in, those hurdles get really high, for those at home who know," Benjamin said. "I think that was the issue. ... That was just all grit and just fighting for my life coming home."

Benjamin, who was slowed by the contact, still held off the field to clock a season-best time of 46.52-seconds. Alison dos Santos of Brazil placed second at 46.84. Qatar's Abderrahman Samba third season best 47.06.

Ezekiel, the reigning NCAA champion in the event, finished third with a Nigerian-record time of 47.11. Warholm, who said he sustained a leg strain, placed fifth at 47.58.

Benjamin also beat Warholm and dos Santos, who accounted for the last four world titles, in the event for gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The 28-year-old won bronze in the event at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. He earned silver in 2022 and 2019. He also won silver in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400-meter relay.

American Noah Lyles also picked up a gold medal Friday with a 19.52-second first-place finish in the 200-meter event. Team USA's Kenny Bednarek placed second with a season-best 19.58. Jamaica's Bryan Levell placed third at 19.64. The victory gave Lyles his fourth-consecutive world title in the event.

Fellow American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the women's 200M with a world-leading 21.68. Team USA's Jasmine Jones placed second in the women's 200-meter hurdles with a personal-best 52.08. Femke Bol of the Netherlands won that event with a world-leading 51.54.

Portugal's Pedro Pichardo earned gold in the men's triple jump on Day 7 of the World Athletics Championships.

American Cole Hocker finished third in qualifying for the men's 5,000 meters with a time of 13:13.41. He'll compete in the final Sunday in Japan.