EUGENE, Ore. – The first of Mississippi State’s four potential World Championships medals was won on Saturday night by Canadian Marco Arop in the men’s 800m.
Clocking in at 1:44.28, Arop took home bronze for Canada’s second-ever medal in the event. He joins silver medalist Gary Reed who found the podium in 2007.
“I’m just so proud. There are a lot of people who helped me get here,” Arop told Canadian media members on site. “I hope I made them happy today. That victory lap was almost as tiring as the race.”
What a moment here for the 23-year-old from Edmonton.
Started his career six years ago.
A world championship 800m bronze medal winner here today. Draped in the 🇨🇦 and soaking up this moment. pic.twitter.com/3ZB6yvozDL
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 24, 2022
The race got off to a precarious start as Arop was tripped up by Algerian Silmane Moula as the field broke from their lanes and collapsed at the 100m mark. However, Arop took charge and led the field at the bell.
He looked to extend his lead down the back stretch, but could not shake Kenya’s Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir, the defending Olympic champion. Korir caught Arop coming out of the final turn with 100m to the line. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati also ran down Arop in the final 50m to result in his third-place finish.
BRONZE FOR CANADA 🇨🇦
Marco Arop wins bronze for Canada in the 800m.
He becomes just the second Canadian man ever to win a medal in this event at worlds. @CBCOlympics @AthleticsCanada pic.twitter.com/nM1h7FzqDm
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 24, 2022
“Hopefully, he’s just the first medal we get, and not the only one,” MSU head coach Chris Woods said.
Mississippi State now turns its attention to the men’s javelin final where defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and American Curtis Thompson will throw for medals.
For more information on the Bulldog track and field program, visit HailState.com or search for “HailStateTF” on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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