World 800m champ Marco Arop prioritizes winning track medals over world record ‘passion project’

Canadian middle-distance runner Marco Arop is making waves in the track and field world as he continues to chase after David Rudisha’s 800-meter world record. Despite this lofty goal, Arop remains focused on developing his skills in the 1,500 meters, a distance that he believes is an untapped skillset for him.

At a recent Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, Jamaica, Arop finished sixth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3 minutes 39.65 seconds, not far off his personal best of 3:38.36. The race was won by Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the Olympic 800-meter gold medalist. Arop’s coach, Chris Woods, sees the opportunity to race against top-caliber athletes in the 1,500 meters as a way to sharpen Arop’s skills and improve his overall performance.

Despite his focus on the 1,500 meters, Arop also competed in the 800 meters at the event, leading wire-to-wire and clocking a time of 1:45.13. Arop is the only Canadian athlete committed to competing in all four Grand Slam Track events, with upcoming stops in Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

Arop’s ultimate goal is to break Rudisha’s 800-meter world record of 1:40.91, a feat that he has dubbed “Project 99.” Arop’s consistency in his race times and his performance at the Olympics, where he finished second by just 1-100th of a second, have given him and his coach confidence that he is closing in on the record.

While Arop is focused on breaking records, his coach emphasizes the importance of winning medals and maintaining a balanced approach to his training. Arop is hopeful of competing in a few Diamond League meets before defending his 800-meter title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

With his dedication to training and his impressive recovery abilities, Arop is poised to make a mark in the world of track and field. As he continues to chase after records and medals, Arop remains a standout athlete to watch in the coming years.