Edmonton — Edmonton runner Marco Arop is foregoing his final year of U.S. college eligibility to pursue a career as a pro athlete and focus on preparing for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Mississippi State runner made the announcement via a Twitter video on Monday. "It's been my goal to be the best athlete I can be," Arop said in thanking his coaches, teammates and fans. "Although I won't be running with a Bulldog uniform moving on, I'll still be a Bulldog for life." Arop, 21, specialized in the 800 metres, but only began running track during Grade 12 at what is now St. Oscar Romero High School. He was born in Sudan and immigrated to Canada with his family as refugees in 2002. For Canada, he won a Pan American Games gold medal last summer, and advanced to the finals at the World Championships in October. He's also the Canadian national champion at the distance. At Mississippi State, Arop finished second at the NCAA championships twice and holds the school's record in the indoor and outdoor 800 metres. "This wasn't an easy decision to make, but it was one I would have to make eventually," he told Mississippi State's website. The first round of the men's 800 metres at the Tokyo Games is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2020.
