Canadian track and field star Marco Arop will target Noah Ngeny's 25-year-old 1,000m world record in Zagreb,
Just four weeks after clinching an Olympic silver medal in the men’s 800m in Paris, Canadian middle-distance star Marco Arop is poised to challenge the 25-year-old 1000m world record set by Kenya’s Noah Ngeny.
The record attempt will unfold at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial meet in Zagreb, Croatia, adding another thrilling chapter to Arop’s remarkable season.
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Arop’s pursuit of the 1000m record, currently standing at 2:11.96, has captivated the athletics world, given his recent performances.
The Edmonton native has demonstrated exceptional form, setting a North American 800m record of 1:41.20 during the Paris Olympics and securing a Diamond League victory in Silesia with a time of 1:41.86.
“After some great 800m races, I will be running the 1000m at the meeting in Zagreb, and I want to break the world record,” Arop told World Athletics.
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His confidence is bolstered by his historic achievement in Paris, where he ended Canada’s 60-year medal drought in the event.
Now, he aims to etch his name further into the annals of athletics by surpassing Ngeny’s longstanding record.
The task ahead is daunting but not insurmountable for Arop, who holds the second-fastest indoor 1000m time in history at 2:14.74 and the Canadian outdoor record at 2:14.35.
“This will be my second world record attempt of the year, the first was an indoor 1000m. I know I'm in great shape. I wasn’t expecting the crazy fast times in Lausanne and Silesia, so I’m really excited to take advantage of this fitness,” Arop added during the pre-event press conference.
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His readiness is evident, and his strategy clear, as he also plans to attempt breaking the 800m world record shortly after in Brussels.
While Arop’s focus is razor-sharp, the competition in Zagreb is formidable. He will face stiff challenges from Olympic 800m finalist Max Burgin of Great Britain and 1500m finalist Stefan Nillessen of the Netherlands.
Moreover, 2024’s fastest 1000m runner, Djamel Sedjati of Algeria, who clocked a remarkable 2:13.97 earlier this year, will also be vying for supremacy in the event.
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Besides Arop, the Boris Hanžeković Memorial meet will feature other Canadian talents, including Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, who will compete in the men’s 2000m.
Philibert-Thiboutot, who set a North American record of 4:51.54 at last year’s Brussels Diamond League, represents another Canadian threat on the track, highlighting the country’s depth in middle-distance races.