Canadian Marco Arop won his first world title in the 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Saturday.
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Arop, 24, won in 1:44.24 ahead of Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:44.53), the silver medalist, and Britain’s Ben Pattison (1:44.83), the bronze medalist.
The Canadian had placed third at the Eugene Worlds in 2022. This time he built on his success on the penultimate straight by taking control of the race. In the last 100 meters he then increased his mighty stride and secured victory.
Arop took advantage of the absence of reigning Olympic and world champion Kenyan Emmanuel Korir, who was eliminated in the playoffs.