Marco Arop dominates Grand Slam Track middle-distance

© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated

Canada’s Marco Arop doubled down during this past weekend’s Grand Slam Track (GST) in Philadelphia at Franklin Field. He won the 800 metre race in a time of 1:43.03. The 26-year-old then finished fourth in the 1500m, clocking 3:35.38.

In the metric mile, Arop was beaten by a world-class field of athletes who specialize in the distance. He does not. Great Britain’s Josh Kerr won in 3:34.44. American Cole Hocker finished second in the time of 3:34.51, and taking third was American Hobbs Kessler in 3:34.91.

AROP IS ON TOP ☝️

Marco Arop wins the short distance event at @GrandSlamTrack in Philadelphia 🔥🇨🇦

A day after winning the 800m, Arop ran a personal best in the 1500m to clinch first place 🏆

Full details ⤵️ https://t.co/pSDZTf5F0P

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) June 1, 2025

For Aarop, the performance was a new personal best time.

In the 800m event, American Josh Hoey took second, finishing well back at 1:44.41. Fellow American Yared Nuguse recorded a 1:45.36 for third. Interestingly, Hobbs Kessler, Josh Kerr and Cole Hocker gave the 800m a go and finished 4th, 5th and 6th in 1:45.60, 1:45.80 and 1:45.81, respectively.

Arop holds the current Canadian record in the 800m, having run as fast as 1:41.20 last summer during the Paris Olympic Games. That performance is also the North American record. Arop, from Edmonton, Alberta, also holds the national 800m indoors (short track) record and the national 1000m record indoors and outdoors, having run 2:13.13 and 2:14.74 for the latter two events. His indoor 800 record is 1:45.50.

The combined events prize purse makes for compelling racing as athletes need to step out of their specialization and race different events.

Arop had 17 points altogether in the short distances after winning Saturday’s 800m. That was one point better than Britain’s Josh Kerr, who won the 1,500m but was fifth in the 800m.

Arop, the 2024 Paris Olympic silver medallist, has won all three 800m Grand Slam Track races so far. He finished second overall in short distance at the first two stops on the circuit.

The current world record in the men’s 800m is 1:40.91 and was set by Kenyan David Rudisha from his running in 2012. Arop is less than a third of a second off that historic mark.

Results

Men’s Events

100 Metres (Short Sprint)

1. Kenny Bednarek (USA) – 9.86
2. Bryan Levell (JAM) – 10.02
3. Zharnel Hughes (GBR) – 10.05
4. Christian Coleman (USA) – 10.12

200 Metres (Long Sprint)

1. Alexander Ogando (DOM) – 20.13
2. Jereem Richards (TTO) – 20.34
3. Steven Gardiner (BAH) – 20.49
4. Muzala Samukonga (ZAM) – 20.56
5. Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) – 20.70
6. Khaleb McRae (USA) – 20.87
7. Matthew Boling (USA) – 20.87
8. Jevaughn Powell (JAM) – 20.91

400 Metres (Long Hurdles)

1. Trevor Bassitt (USA) – 45.47
2. Chris Robinson (USA) – 45.62
3. Alison dos Santos (BRA) – 45.63
4. Caleb Dean (USA) – 46.01
5. Assinie Wilson (JAM) – 46.24
6. Gerald Drummond (CRC) – 47.37
7. Clément Ducos (FRA) – 47.59
8. CJ Allen (USA) – 48.34

1500 Metres (Short Distance)

1. Josh Kerr (GBR) – 3:34.44
2. Cole Hocker (USA) – 3:34.51
3. Hobbs Kessler (USA) – 3:34.91
4. Marco Arop (CAN) – 3:35.38
5. Josh Hoey (USA) – 3:35.45
6. Yared Nuguse (USA) – 3:35.59
7. Samuel Chapple (NED) – 3:37.33
8. Elliot Giles (GBR) – 3:39.92

3000 Metres (Long Distance)

1. Nico Young (USA) – 8:01.03
2. Sam Gilman (USA) – 8:01.70
3. Ky Robinson (AUS) – 8:01.92
4. Andrew Coscoran (IRL) – 8:02.34
5. Graham Blanks (USA) – 8:02.56
6. Morgan Beadlescomb (USA) – 8:03.12
7. Amon Kemboi (KEN) – 8:03.45
8. Luis Grijalva (GUA) – 8:04.01

100 Metres (Short Hurdles)

1. Trey Cunningham (USA) – 10.36
2. Jamal Britt (USA) – 10.50
3. Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA) – 10.52
4. Cordell Tinch (USA) – 10.57
5. Eric Edwards Jr. (USA) – 10.90
6. Jakub Szymański (POL) – 10.93
7. Freddie Crittenden (USA) – 10.96

Women’s Events

100 Metres (Short Sprint)

1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 10.73
2. Tamari Davis (USA) – 11.03
3. Theima Davies (USA) – 11.14
4. Gabby Thomas (USA) – 11.16
5. Celera Barnes (USA) – 11.20
6. Jenna Prandini (USA) – 11.22
7. Sharlene Mawdsley (IRL) – 11.24
8. Jadyn Mays (USA) – 11.26

200 Metres (Long Sprint)

1. Marileidy Paulino (DOM) – 22.46
2. Isabella Whittaker (USA) – 22.82
3. Jessika Gbai (CIV) – 22.85
4. Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) – 22.90
5. Laviai Nielsen (GBR) – 23.00
6. Sharlene Mawdsley (IRL) – 23.24
7. Jenna Prandini (USA) – 23.30
8. Jadyn Mays (USA) – 23.35

400 Metres (Long Hurdles)

1. Lina Nielsen (GBR) – 52.60
2. Jasmine Jones (USA) – 52.73
3. Andrenette Knight (JAM) – 52.85
4. Dalilah Muhammad (USA) – 53.00
5. Rushell Clayton (JAM) – 53.20
6. Anna Cockrell (USA) – 53.35
7. Ayomide Folorunso (ITA) – 53.50
8. Shamier Little (USA) – 53.65

800 Metres (Short Distance)

1. Diribe Welteji (ETH) – 1:58.94
2. Georgia Bell Hunter (GBR) – 1:58.99
3. Jessica Hull (AUS) – 1:59.63
4. Abbey Caldwell (AUS) – 2:00.57
5. Mary Moraa (KEN) – 2:00.92
6. Addy Wiley (USA) – 2:00.92
7. Nikki Hiltz (USA) – 2:00.93
8. Nia Akins (USA) – 2:13.07

100 Metres (Short Hurdles)

1. Ackera Nugent (JAM) – 11.11
2. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – 11.21
3. Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) – 11.41
4. Tia Jones (USA) – 11.50
5. Megan Tapper (JAM) – 11.55
6. Tonea Marshall (USA) – 11.60
7. Danielle Williams (JAM) – 11.65
8. Christina Clemons (USA) – 11.70

Results day 1

Men’s Events

200 Metres (Short Sprint)

1. Kenny Bednarek (USA) – 19.95
2. Zharnel Hughes (GBR) – 20.50
3. Aaron Brown (CAN) – 20.50
4. Andre De Grasse (CAN) – 20.64

400 Metres (Long Sprint)

1. Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) – 44.51
2. Khaleb McRae (USA) – 45.04
3. Jereem Richards (TTO) – 45.05
4. Muzala Samukonga (ZAM) – 45.10
5. Matthew Boling (USA) – 45.21
6. Alexander Ogando (DOM) – 45.87
7. Jevaughn Powell (JAM) – 46.08
8. Steven Gardiner (BAH) – 46.88

800 Metres (Short Distance)

1. Marco Arop (CAN) – 1:43.38
2. Josh Hoey (USA) – 1:44.41
3. Yared Nuguse (USA) – 1:45.36
4. Hobbs Kessler (USA) – 1:45.60
5. Josh Kerr (GBR) – 1:45.80
6. Cole Hocker (USA) – 1:45.81
7. Samuel Chapple (NED) – 1:46.07
8. Elliot Giles (GBR) – 1:46.73

110 Metres Hurdles (Short Hurdles)

1. Jamal Britt (USA) – 13.08
2. Cordell Tinch (USA) – 13.10
3. Trey Cunningham (USA) – 13.18
4. Daniel Roberts (USA) – 13.30
5. Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA) – 13.55
6. Freddie Crittenden (USA) – 13.58
7. Eric Edwards Jr. (USA) – 13.66
8. Jakub Szymański (POL) – 13.67

400 Metres Hurdles (Long Hurdles)

1. Alison dos Santos (BRA) – 48.11
2. Trevor Bassitt (USA) – 48.25
3. Chris Robinson (USA) – 48.76
4. Caleb Dean (USA) – 49.48
5. CJ Allen (USA) – 49.61
6. Assinie Wilson (USA) – 49.68
7. Gerald Drummond (CRC) – 50.39
8. Clément Ducos (FRA) – 50.53

Women’s Events

200 Metres (Short Sprint)

1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 21.99
2. Gabby Thomas (USA) – 22.10
3. Tamari Davis (USA) – 22.59
4. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) – 22.65
5. Celera Barnes (USA) – 22.72
6. Jenna Prandini (USA) – 22.76
7. Thelma Davies (USA) – 22.88
8. Jadyn Mays (USA) – 22.92

400 Metres (Long Sprint)

1. Marileidy Paulino (DOM) – 49.12
2. Nickisha Pryce (JAM) – 50.04
3. Isabella Whittaker (USA) – 50.16
4. Jessika Gbai (CIV) – 50.38
5. Alexis Holmes (USA) – 50.48
6. Sharlene Mawdsley (IRL) – 50.74
7. Laviai Nielsen (GBR) – 51.02
8. Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) – DSQ

1500 Metres (Short Distance)

1. Diribe Welteji (ETH) – 3:58.04
2. Jessica Hull (AUS) – 3:58.36
3. Nikki Hiltz (USA) – 4:00.54
4. Georgia Bell (GBR) – 4:00.85
5. Abbey Caldwell (AUS) – 4:01.20
6. Addison Wiley (USA) – 4:01.45
7. Mary Moraa (KEN) – 4:01.70
8. Nia Akins (USA) – 4:02.00

3000 Metres (Long Distance)

1. Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN) – 8:43.61
2. Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) – 8:43.70
3. Josette Andrews (USA) – 8:44.70
4. Weini Kelati (USA) – 8:45.31
5. Elise Cranny (USA) – 8:45.44
6. Medina Eisa (ETH) – 8:48.26
7. Nozomi Tanaka (JPN) – 8:51.64
8. Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) – 8:57.64

100 Metres Hurdles (Short Hurdles)

1. Ackera Nugent (JAM) – 12.44
2. Tia Jones (USA) – 12.60
3. Megan Tapper (JAM) – 12.66
4. Tonea Marshall (USA) – 12.68
5. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – 12.70
6. Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) – 12.79
7. Danielle Williams (JAM) – 12.84
8. Christina Clemons (USA) – 12.96

400 Metres Hurdles (Long Hurdles)

1. Anna Cockrell (USA) – 54.04
2. Jasmine Jones (USA) – 54.65
3. Andrenette Knight (JAM) – 54.86
4. Dalilah Muhammad (USA) – 54.88
5. Rushell Clayton (JAM) – 55.14
6. Lina Nielsen (GBR) – 57.14
7. Ayomide Folorunso (ITA) – 57.90
8. Shamier Little (USA) – DNF

MEET SCHEDULE:

Day 1 – Saturday, May 31

Day 2 – Sunday, June 1

Cover photo from Team Canada X post. Photo credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek)