Canadian contenders focused on Diamond League Final after successful athletics worlds

It's been a top priority for Sarah Mitton this outdoor season. Aaron Brown hasn't stopped his pursuit despite disappointment at the World Athletics Championships. And as a newly crowned world champion, Marco Arop is further motivated to achieve his next goal.

For four months, the elite track and field athletes have competed around the world for a chance to qualify for the Sept. 16-17 Diamond League Final in hopes of becoming Canada's first champion since shot putter Dylan Armstrong in 2011.

"I know she has sights on winning Diamond League. She isn't working this hard for second," said Mitton's coach Rich Parkinson, months before she became the first-ever Canadian woman to earn a world shot put medal with silver last Saturday in Budapest, Hungary.

Mitton finished second at her first Diamond League Final a year ago in Zurich, falling short of the 20 metres needed to upend Chase Ealey of the United States.

Sprinter Brown and middle-distance runner Arop — the other top contenders to make an appearance at this year's Final in Eugene, Ore. — placed top-three a year ago and are inching closer to the coveted title of Diamond League champion that includes $30,000 US in prize money and a trophy.

But work remains to qualify, with Brown, relay teammate Andre De Grasse and Arop looking to improve their chances this week. The former competes Thursday at the Weltklasse Zurich meet, which will be streamed live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem at 2 p.m. ET. Arop will race the men's 800 metres on Saturday in Xiamen, China, with coverage on the CBC platforms at 7 a.m. ET.

All season, athletes have been awarded points for ranking first through eighth at each meet, with the top eight runners in the 100m to 800m events