BUDAPEST, Hungary – The first of Mississippi State’s two World Athletics Championships medalists from a year ago hits the track on Tuesday to begin his quest for another global honor.
Marco Arop carries the Canadian captaincy and medal hopes in the men’s 800m after winning bronze in 2022 and becoming the first Canadian man to medal in the event since 2007. He has developed into a favorite to win the event, climbing to the No. 1 spot on the world rankings list earlier this summer. If he can complete the challenging road to the final on Saturday, he could become the first Canadian to ever take home the 800m gold.
He’ll be joined by his training partner in Starkville, Navasky Anderson, making his second World Championships appearance for Jamaica. Anderson clocked a personal-best 1:44.70 in July to better his national record. Arop meanwhile, ran just one-tenth of a second off the Canadian outdoor record held by former Bulldog Brandon McBride in March. Arop already holds the national indoor record in the event.
Arop’s strategy has shifted since his Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021. He now looks to lead from the front and has posted blistering 400m splits. In last year’s final race, he led with 100m to go before being caught in the final 50m.
The stage is set for both Arop and Anderson to make history this year. Olympic champion and reigning world champion Emmanuel Korir of Kenya has yet to run faster than 1:47.71 this season as he has been recovering from an injury. Kenya’s hopes rest on 2021 U20 World Champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi who will challenge the Bulldog pair and has posted the second-fastest time in the world this season. Arop’s season best ranks third, and Anderson is among the top 30.
For Anderson, simply reaching Saturday’s final would be a historic achievement for his island nation. No Jamaican man has ever advanced past the semifinals at the World Championships. Clive Terrelonge holds the distinction of the highest Jamaican finish in the event, placing third in his semifinal heat and 10th overall in 1993.
On Tuesday, athletes will run in seven heats with the top three in each automatically advancing to Thursday’s semifinal. Additionally, the next three fastest times from any heat will move on. Anderson will run out of lane nine in the second heat where his personal best…
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