Edmonton’s Marco Arop had a sensational 2023 season, which saw him become Canada’s first world champion over 800 metres and set a new Canadian record of 1:42.85. Arop began 2024 with excitement as he ran two Canadian indoor records, but he cut his indoor season short to prepare for outdoor competitions. The 25-year-old will kick off his outdoor season on Friday in Starkville, Miss., with a 400-metre race.
“The 2024 World Tour begins tomorrow,” wrote Arop on Instagram. “We open up with a 400m and 1500m this weekend at the @hailstatetf Bull Dog Relays. I am looking forward to another incredible season ahead.”
Arop has not raced a 400m in two years; he holds a personal best of 46.10 seconds, which he achieved at the same track at Mississippi State University in April 2022. Arop will be tackling a 400m/1,500m double, a challenge he’s no stranger to, as he has frequently opted for 1,500m races to kick off his season. He holds a personal best of 3:38.36 in the 1,500m.
He will come into Friday’s races well rested after choosing not to compete at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow to prepare himself for the long outdoor season. As world champion, Arop will be one of the Canadian favourites to, earn a medal in Paris this August.
After the Bull Dog Relays, he will compete again at the Florida Relays on March 30. Following that, he will likely race his first 800m of the season at the Xiamen Diamond League in China, the first Diamond League meet of the 2024 season.
Arop’s return to the 400m could be a sign of something significant for later this year. The 800m world champion could provide a boost to the Canadian 4x400m relay team, led by collegiate star Christopher Morales Williams, if needed.
Marco Arop smashes Canadian indoor 1,000m record at New Balance Grand Prix
In his two indoor races to open 2024, Arop set Canadian records in both the 800m and 1,000m. His 1,000m time of 2:14.74 was the second-fastest time in history, behind only the world record of 2:14.20, held by David Rudisha.
