Photo by: Canadian Olympic Committee
Arop Finishes Seventh at IAAF World Championships
October 01, 2019 | Track & Field
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
DOHA, Qatar – Just three years into his organized track and field career, Marco Arop is among the world's elite. The rising junior at Mississippi State finished seventh in the 800m at the IAAF World Championships on Tuesday afternoon.
Arop closed a successful 2019 season with a run of 1:45.78 in the finals, his third sub-1:46 of the outdoor campaign. He was the youngest competitor in the field.
"I'm not shocked at all that Marco has made it this far," head coach Chris Woods said. "I knew from the very first time I visited with Marco and his family in Edmonton that he was going to be extremely special. Even though he's a world championship finalist this year, I still don't believe he's scratched the surface of what he can do. On the world level, on the elite level and going to the collegiate level, Marco is a super talent.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native went out with the leaders and was in position to medal at the 400m mark. Puerto Rico's Wesley Vazquez took the first lap in 48.99. The quick pace continued in the second lap as Donavan Brazier set an American and World Championships record to win gold in 1:42.34.
Arop was one of two Bulldogs carrying the Canadian's hopes for a medal. He ran slightly quicker in Sunday's semifinals, crossing the line in 1:45.07 and taking second in his heat. Former Bulldog Brandon McBride was ousted on Sunday afternoon after running 1:46.21 to finish 18th.
"I had an opportunity to make the final and I just took it," Arop said on Sunday. "I saw the times from heat one, so we knew that if it was not a hot race we had to fight for the top two positions. It was hard to watch Brandon's race. I was hopeful he could make the final and have two Canadians, but things happen."
The 20-year-old Arop, won gold for Canada at the Pan American Games in August, running a school-record time in the process. He finished second to McBride at the Athletics Canada Championships just a few weeks after missing his third NCAA Championships appearance.
"I couldn't be more proud of how he bounced back," Woods continued. "This kid got a little nicked up at the end of May and thought his season was over because he didn't make nationals. We were able to regroup and get him back on the track. He's just a super talented kid with the right mindset that you have to have in order to be successful on this level and in the next level. I'm just extremely proud of him."
Indoors, he broke the Canadian national record with a school-record of 1:45.90 in February. He finished as the NCAA runner-up indoors. Arop is a three-time First Team All-American and three-time SEC Championships runner-up. He also finished as the NCAA runner-up outdoors his freshman year.
For more information on the Mississippi State track and field team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
DOHA, Qatar – Just three years into his organized track and field career, Marco Arop is among the world's elite. The rising junior at Mississippi State finished seventh in the 800m at the IAAF World Championships on Tuesday afternoon.
Arop closed a successful 2019 season with a run of 1:45.78 in the finals, his third sub-1:46 of the outdoor campaign. He was the youngest competitor in the field.
"I'm not shocked at all that Marco has made it this far," head coach Chris Woods said. "I knew from the very first time I visited with Marco and his family in Edmonton that he was going to be extremely special. Even though he's a world championship finalist this year, I still don't believe he's scratched the surface of what he can do. On the world level, on the elite level and going to the collegiate level, Marco is a super talent.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native went out with the leaders and was in position to medal at the 400m mark. Puerto Rico's Wesley Vazquez took the first lap in 48.99. The quick pace continued in the second lap as Donavan Brazier set an American and World Championships record to win gold in 1:42.34.
Arop was one of two Bulldogs carrying the Canadian's hopes for a medal. He ran slightly quicker in Sunday's semifinals, crossing the line in 1:45.07 and taking second in his heat. Former Bulldog Brandon McBride was ousted on Sunday afternoon after running 1:46.21 to finish 18th.
"I had an opportunity to make the final and I just took it," Arop said on Sunday. "I saw the times from heat one, so we knew that if it was not a hot race we had to fight for the top two positions. It was hard to watch Brandon's race. I was hopeful he could make the final and have two Canadians, but things happen."
The 20-year-old Arop, won gold for Canada at the Pan American Games in August, running a school-record time in the process. He finished second to McBride at the Athletics Canada Championships just a few weeks after missing his third NCAA Championships appearance.
"I couldn't be more proud of how he bounced back," Woods continued. "This kid got a little nicked up at the end of May and thought his season was over because he didn't make nationals. We were able to regroup and get him back on the track. He's just a super talented kid with the right mindset that you have to have in order to be successful on this level and in the next level. I'm just extremely proud of him."
Indoors, he broke the Canadian national record with a school-record of 1:45.90 in February. He finished as the NCAA runner-up indoors. Arop is a three-time First Team All-American and three-time SEC Championships runner-up. He also finished as the NCAA runner-up outdoors his freshman year.
For more information on the Mississippi State track and field team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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