Mohamed Katir and Adel Mechaal provided exciting competition without bowing out in the semifinals, while Mario García Romo from Salamanca stands ready to face the challenge on Wednesday at 21:15 in the second 1,500 meters final of the outdoor World Cup.
Relating to
- Gorgeous Spanish sprinting full of potential in the 800 meters for men
- Grocery wins gold from Girma and Arce secures a finalist spot
In a village with a population of about 200, Villar de Galimazo, located roughly 10 kilometers from Peñaranda de Bracamonte, endures harsh winters. There, the outdoor champion of the mile in 2022 remains fearless in the face of big, intricate challenges.
Mario García Romo saves his place in a miler showdown
David Rubio
He was always quick to show talent as a child. He won races and excelled in studies, then moved away to pursue opportunities. He spent time in the United States, earning a chemistry degree from the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss. There he progressed steadily, moving up from a ninth place at the U20 European Championships in 2017 to a 22nd place at the U20 World Cups the next year.
Mario García Romo captured a silver behind Belgian Verheyden at the European U-23 meet and gained attention last year by racking up miles in the NCAA and finishing second in a trio of laps around the track. Training about 1,600 meters above sea level under Dathan Ritzenheim at the On Running facility in Boulder, Colorado, the Spanish champion earned bronze at the European Championship in Munich in 2023 and placed fourth at the World Cup in Eugene.
Mario García Romo will give his best in the final.
Inseparable Yared Nuguse, only 28 days younger than him, trains with him; both are 24, and Nuguse is the son of Ethiopian immigrants born in Louisville, Kentucky, the same city that gave birth to Muhammad Ali.
He joined the media as soon as he advanced from the semifinals. Mario García and Nuguse greeted one another outside the stadium and left together. The Salamanca runner remarked after the qualifiers, “We never talk about races, so we won’t discuss the final.” Nuguse responded with a friendly photo, adding, “He is my friend, but we are rivals on Wednesday.”
Yet the real rival to watch is Jakob Ingebrigtsen. A year younger than the Spaniards and Nuguse, the Norwegian known as the “troll” will chase a universal gold that has resisted him in recent championships, while the Ethiopian in Belgrade and the vanquished Englishman in Eugene have also posed threats.
With two European outdoor doubles (1,500 and 5,000 meters) and indoor doubles (1,500 and 3,000), Norway remains the favorite, though watchers should beware of Abel Kipsang and Cheruiyot from Kenya, fellow Norwegians Boras, as well as Josh Kerr and Gourley from Britain.
In the final, García Romo aims to make his mark as a rising star in distance events, hoping to translate his long training days into a memorable performance. (EFE)
Inoue’s extraordinary pace and tactical wit are not the only stories in this race. The field is crowded with talents who could seize the moment when the gun sounds and the pace quickens, testing not only speed but endurance and strategy alike.