By Canadian Press

Canada’s Brown seventh in world 200 metres; Arop, Ahmed advance to finals

Jul 21, 2022 | 10:19 PM

EUGENE, Ore. — Canada’s Aaron Brown says he plans to keep chasing that elusive individual medal.

The 30-year-old from Toronto finished seventh in a sizzling 200 metres at the world track and field championships on Thursday. He was eighth in the 100 earlier in the meet. 

“Disappointed, I’m hurt, but it’s part of the game right? Sometimes things don’t turn out your way,” Brown said. “You just have to keep digging, keep fighting and keep going back to the drawing board, figure what to do to be ready for the next moment.”

The 30-year-old from Toronto ran 20.18 seconds.

American Noah Lyles ran a blistering 19.31 — the fastest time in the world this season — to crush a field missing Canada’s Olympic champion Andre De Grasse. De Grasse, who said he’s still not 100 per cent after battling COVID-19, withdrew after struggling in the 100.

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Lyles, who finished runner-up to De Grasse at the Tokyo Olympics, let out a huge roar after he crossed the line, then grabbed the neck of his bodysuit with two hands and ripped it down the front. 

Brown has climbed the global podium numerous times with Canada’s 4×100 relay, including silver at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics. And while he’s raced in numerous international finals, and captured a Diamond League win this season at the British Grand Prix, his silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games is his one major individual top-three result.

“I’ve got the relay with my guys (which begins with Friday’s heats), I always love running for my country with the boys, see if we can add another medal to the count,” he said. “But I’m really hungry for that individual medal. And I’m going to keep going to the drawing board and let these moments fill me.”

Americans swept the 200 podium with Kenny Bednarek taking the silver in 19.77, and Erriyon Knighton finishing third (19.80).

Canada’s Marco Arop easily booked his berth in Saturday’s 800-metre final. The 23-year-old from Edmonton ran one minute 45.12 seconds for the second fastest time of Thursday’s semifinals. 

“The goal was to just get into the final and then take it from there,” Arop said.

Arop, who is No. 3 in the world this year, ran with the pack through the first lap, pulling into the lead with about 250 metres to go. He was nipped at the finish line by Algeria’s Slimane Moula.

“I just stayed patient early on, saw an opening and took it,” Arop said. “Moula has a great finish, I’ve seen him run like that all year. So, I think part of me was sort of expecting him to come at the end, but as long as it’s just him, I’m okay.” 

And Moh Ahmed of St. Catharines, Ont., advanced to the final of the 5,000. 

Ahmed, the Olympic silver medallist in the event, set a fast pace from the front for much of the race before crossing fifth in 13:15.17. He was also fifth fastest on the night. 

Ahmed’s strategy in pushing the pace was to eliminate some runners from the slower heat before his. 

“I don’t know who got eliminated or who didn’t, but there were some big names at that seventh spot in the (earlier heat), and I thought . . .  might as well knock ’em out,” he said. “So, that’s what I wanted to do.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2022. 

The Canadian Press