Marco Arop smashes Canadian 800m record at Prefontaine Classic
Arop continues to be unstoppable, setting a new Canadian record and becoming the fourth fastest man in North America
Photo by:
Kevin Morris
Edmonton’s Marco Arop set out to shatter the Canadian 800m record of 1:43.20 at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, Ore., on Sunday, and the 24-year-old world champion accomplished exactly that, running a blistering personal best of 1:42.85 and setting a new national record.
Arop is the first Canadian man ever to run under 1:43, a remarkable accomplishment to add to the stunning performances he has treated fans to recently. Arop’s time resets the previous record of 1:43:20 set by his former university teammate, Brandon McBride, in 2018.
Arop headed into the Diamond League final off an 800m personal best of 1:43.24 at the Xiamen Diamond League in China and world championship gold in Budapest. The 24-year-old was paced by his training partner, Navasky Anderson, who brought Arop through the first lap of two in 49.2 seconds. Arop was on Anderson’s heels until 500m, when he took a commanding lead into the back straightaway. World championship silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya managed to edge out the Canadian in the final 50 metres to take the win in 1:42.80. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati was third in 1:43.06.
Arop has been in incredible form this season, securing both national and world titles in the 800m. He has also clocked four sub-1:44 times in the Diamond League, which not culminated in a Diamond League silver medal in Eugene, but also showcased his exceptional performance.
The world’s top track and field athletes were in Eugene, Ore., for the Prefontaine Classic, which also serves as the 2023 Diamond League final, on Sept. 16 and 17.
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