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Click on the video player above at 4:35 a.m. ET to watch the best track and field athletes on the planet compete at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Leading Canada’s medal chances is Marco Arop, who is attempting to repeat at the men’s 800-metre champion on his 27th birthday. The race takes place at 9:22 a.m. ET.
The Edmonton native automatically qualified for the final, taking the first of three heats in one minute 45.09 seconds in the rain at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
Arop, who won this event in 2023 in Budapest, mentioned his growth as a middle-distance runner to CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux, noting he would have struggled in Thursday’s rainy conditions earlier in his career.
“Now I’m feeling very comfortable. It was kind of nice out there. Refreshing,” added Arop, with a smile.
Reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya, who boasts a 12-5 career record against Arop, was second in Thursday’s final heat in 1:43.47 to automatically qualify for the final.
WATCH | CBC Sports recaps Day 7 at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo:
Hosts Perdita Felicien and Devin Heroux break down all the action from day 7 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, including the 200m final and the wild 400m men’s hurdles finals.
Sarah Mitton, the 2023 women’s world shot put silver medallist, will look to improve on her standing when she competes in the final at 6:54 a.m. ET.
Last month, the Brooklyn, N.S., native was stripped of her Diamond League Final victory following a successful protest of her winning throw.
Mitton’s second attempt measured 20.67 metres but, following a review by judges, Mitton was ruled to have stepped out of the throwing circle before the shot hit the ground, thereby making her throw invalid. It also appears she clipped the front toe board.
