Runner Marco Arop, shot putter Sarah Mitton collect 3rd-place finishes at Bislett Games

In a season devoid of a World Athletics Championships and Olympics, Cooper Lutkenhaus is demonstrating he’s the man to beat over 800 metres outdoors after capturing a world indoor title in March.

The 17-year-old American won his second race in three days, reaching the finish in a world-leading and personal-best one minute 42.08 seconds on Wednesday to edge reigning Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi by 1-100th of a second at the Bislett Games Diamond League competition in Oslo, Norway.

Edmonton’s Marco Arop couldn't mount a kick in the final 100 metres and trailed by about four metres at the finish in third with a 1:43.33 clocking. He finished 41-100ths behind the victorious Lutkenhaus in second at the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday.

"I planned on staying back in second or third for most of the race and then executing my move but my last 100 metres is still not quite there yet," Arop said. "I hope it will be for the next race.

"The men's 800 metres is an amazing place right now and I'm so happy to be a part of it; it's a really an exciting time."

In Wednesday's race, Lutkenhaus made his move at little more than 200 metres from the finish line and passed Wanyonyi, coming off a second-place effort in Rabat on May 31.

Arop claims 2025 world bronze, dethroned by Kenyan rival Wanyonyi

Wanyonyi and Lutkenhaus pulled away from Arop at the top of the straightaway and waged a battle over the final metres, with Lutkenhaus looking at least twice to his left at a charging Wanyonyi and holding off the Kenyan for the victory.

"It was a very tough race and I had to dive for the line to be sure of the win," said Lutkenhaus, who fell after crossing the line. "I knew [Wanyonyi] was on my shoulder and I was willing the