Edmonton’s Arop places second in men’s 800m at world athletics championship

Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi crosses the finish line ahead of Algeria's Djamel Sedjati and Canada's Marco Arop, right, to win the men's 800 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Canada’s Marco Arop finished second in the men’s 800 metres at the world athletics ultimate championship on Sunday.

The Edmonton native crossed the finish line in one minute 42.28 seconds. Arop, 27, is a three-time world championship medallist (one gold, two bronze) and Olympic silver medallist.

Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati finished first in 1:41.91, while reigning world and Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi placed third in 1:42.28.

In the men’s 200 final, seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse finished fifth with a time of 19.92 seconds, while Toronto’s Aaron Brown placed seventh at 20.23.

American Kenny Bednarek completed the double with a world-leading time of 19.52 seconds. He won the 100 on Saturday.

Reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, of Botswana, placed second with a season-best time of 19.76 seconds. American Courtney Lindsey was third with a season-best 19.79 seconds.

Earlier Sunday in the semifinals, De Grasse, from Markham, Ont., finished second in the second heat with a time of 19.87 seconds while coasting a bit toward the end. Brown was fourth in the same heat in 20.08 seconds.

Unlike the Olympics and world championships, no medals are awarded at the ultimate championship. Instead, athletes are competing for a share of a US$10-million prize pool, with each event winner earning $150,000.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2026.