After the Olympic disappointment in 2021, a motivated Arop frame was redeemed with a 2023 world championship title in the 800 men’s meters and a silver medal in the record time of North America at the Olympic Games in Paris last summer.
With Talk, the Canadian corridor is happier in practice and has better quality workouts, thanks in part to a loan friendship with the new teammate Isaiah Jewett, it could mean more problems for opposite runners.
“The relationship they have been building has revitalized Marco,” said Arop coach Chris Woods, CBC Sports before the first Grand Slam athletics event this week in Kingston, Jamaica, where Edmonton’s athlete will compete for a $ 100,000 prize in the United States in the 800 and 1,500.
“You are enjoying training, [presence of Jewett]. Comes to practice and is pushed in areas that do not [been] before.
“Isaiah has a low 45 [second personal best] In 400. Marco had not trained with someone much faster than him [in] Foot speed, “Forests continue.” I’m praying that it is beneficial in the long term. “
Jewett was a 2021 NCAA champion in 800 and made his Olympic debut later that year in Tokyo, where he cooled with Arop after they failed to advance their respective semifinals. They also talked about training together, but it didn’t go further.
“Both have the goal of returning to Tokyo,” Woods said in reference to the World Athletics Championships of this year from September 13 to 21. “Now we can have this huge triumph together.”
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The four times Olympic champion Michael Johnson is the man behind the new professional athletics league.
The coach said that Jewett, 28, has brought the joy to training at Starkville, Massachusetts, which can be stressful with athletes who plan to have to stay healthy, train and run at a high level to reach the end of the month.
“It brings a level of lightness and it seems that Marco is enjoying his time in practice,” Woods said, Chief coach in the state of Mississippi. “He is enjoying his trade, enjoying the trip but taking it extremely seriously.”
The live broadcast of the Kingston Grand Slam song, Jamaica, is available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem from Friday at 6 pm et. The coverage continues on Saturday at 6 pm and concludes Sunday at 3 pm
On Saturday, the 26 -year -old Arop will execute the third 1,500 of his career at 7:50 pm et against the “runners” Cole Hocker of the United States, the British medium distance corridor Josh Kerr and the American Yared Nuguse, the Olympic medalists of gold, silver and bronze on August 6 in Paris. 800 goes on Sunday at 4:39 pm
“Running has always tried to find the next team … It is a constant growth and see where my training can take me,” Arops told Grand Slam Track the past fall. “I am incredibly excited to start this.”
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The four -time Olympic champion sits with the host Morgan Campbell a few days after the debut of the Grand Slam song event in Kingston, Jamaica.
Hocker, Kerr and Nuguse have a PB under three minutes 28 seconds, while Arop has a better 3: 38.36 of the 2023 Florida relay. Four months ago, he told the online sports magazine Citius Mag that will run at 3:30 “at some point.”
“That is my expectation,” Woods said. “If we believe we can win [in Kingston]We must also believe that we can run below 3:30.
“Marco has great racial instincts, regardless of distance. That’s where I have confidence in its ability to compete and challenge them [Olympic medallists]. Ran a half marathon [on Dec. 15 in Huntsville, Ala.]ran well and won [in one hour 11 minutes 15 seconds]”
Arop joined GST last October and is the Canadian lonely between 48 runners committed to appearing in the four Slams: Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30 to June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29) are the others.
AROP 1-CENTIMA PART OF THE SECOND OF OLYMPIC GOLD
Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya, the American Bryce Hoppel, Neil Gourley of Scotland and Mohamed Attaoui, who was born in Morocco and represents Spain internationally, are the “challengers” in the short distance group (800/1,500). Chosen based on recent actions, they will be paid an appearance rate for each blow in which they run.
In the Paris Olympic Games, Arop recorded 1: 41.20 and Wanyonyi clung to gold, surpassing Arop 1-100 of a second. Twelve days later, Wanyonyi retained Arop in the section, this time with a more considerable margin, winning in 1: 41.11 at an event of the Diamond League in Lausana, Switzerland.
Woods warned fans not to underestimate Arop, the competitor, in Jamaica.
“He’s going to win, point,” Woods said. “I think Marco will surprise some people due to their set of skills, their will and belief in itself that you can compete with anyone at any distance while we are prepared.
“Marco signed up to be a corridor, not a challenger, because he wants to compete better again and again. He doesn’t shy away that. People are dangerous.”
Philibert-Thiboutot retires after the season
Meanwhile, Charles Philibert-Thiboutot of the Quebec city anticipates that Kingston will be his only Grand Slam Track competition and told CBC Sports that he will retire from the competitive race at the end of the season.
“When I was in Paris [at the Olympics] I had the feeling that I did absolutely everything I could to be the best corridor I could be, “said the 34 -year -old Olympic.” I feel in my body, to improve, it is increasingly difficult, while the boys I am competing are 25, 26, 27, they improve jumps.
“I want the latter [season] Be fun and competitive. If I execute a couple of better personal results and get good results in some races, I will be happy to hang the peaks and have good memories of leaving the sport. “
A week ago, Philibert-Thiboutot was confirmed as a challenger substitute for the long-distance racing group (3,000/5,000). The 5,000 men are scheduled for Friday at 7:56 pm, with 3,000 on Sunday at 4:49 pm
The Canadian will fight against Grant Fisher, born in Calgary, from Michigan, an 2024 Olympic bronze medalist at 5,000 and 10,000, together with and Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia, who ran the second 5,000 in history last May in 12: 36.72.
“I think I can run against the best in the world in the [3,000]”said Philibert-Thiboutot, who had the Canadian record of 7: 35.73 for 49 days last summer.” I still need more experience in 5K. Running in him [Jamaican] Heat can be difficult for me.
“I have to try to use my 1,500 meters speed for my advantage. If the race is strategic, maybe I can try to surprise in the sprint.”
