Canadian middle distance runner Marco Arop has broken yet another national record, this time beating his own in the indoor 800m. 

On Jan. 27, Arop ran a 1:45.50 at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, just faster than his previous record of 1:45.90 set in 2019. His time is now the official meet record, beating Puerto Rican runner Andres Arroyo’s 1:47.25 set in 2017.

The Alberta native has been a big name in the track and field world for years, but has recently solidified himself as one of the best middle distance runners the country has ever seen. Arop has held the indoor record since 2019, and set the outdoor record after running a 1:42.85 in September of 2023. 

Dominance is not new for Arop, who has been competing at a high-level since his breakout season in 2018, where he finished second at the NCAA Championships, won his first Canadian Championship, and finished second to Canadian record holder Brandon McBride at the NACAC Championships in Toronto. Since that year, Arop has been cutting down on his time and winning accolades and has become the country’s best 800m athlete.

Arop placed 14th in his first Olympics, but has since shined on the international stage. After winning bronze in the 2022 World Championships, Arop – just one year later – won Canada’s first-ever gold medal in the 800m in Budapest, Hungary. 

Now ranked second in the event by World Athletics, the 25-year-old will look to solidify himself on the biggest stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics.