Saïd Mechaal
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Saïd Mechaal Mechaal |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Born | 23 May 1998 Palamós, Spain |
| Sport | |
| Country | Spain |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | Long-distance running, cross country running |
Saïd Mechaal Mechaal (born 23 May 1998) is a Spanish long-distance and cross country runner. In January 2026, he set a new Spanish national record in the 10K run, whilst competing in Valencia.[1]
Career
He is a member of ADA Calvià-Vistasol in Mallorca. He studied in the United States at Iowa State University.[2][3] He placed ninth overall competing for Iowa State over 5000 metres at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships,[4] and placed tenth overall at the 2024 NCAA cross country championships.[5]
In October 2025, Mechaal competed at the Paris 20K, breaking the Spanish national record previously held by Thierry Ndikumwenayo for 15km during the race, with his 15-kilometre split time, and finished 2 seconds outside the Spanish 20km record held by Carlos Mayo.[2][6] Later that month, he made his debut in the half marathon in Valencia, running 60:48.[7]
Mechaal placed fifth Spaniard at the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca in November 2025,[8] and made his senior international debut competing at the 2025 European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, having previously ran at a junior level at the championships for Spain in 2019.[9]
On 11 January 2026, Mechaal broke the Spanish 10K run national record in Valencia by 16 seconds, finishing seventh overall in the race in 27:25 minutes, to beat the mark previously set by Ilias Fifa.[10][11]
Personal life
Born in Palamós, Catalonia, his brother is fellow Spanish international runner Adel Mechaal. He is of Moroccan descent, with his family moving from Morocco to Baix Empordà in Catalonia prior to his birth.[12][2]
References
- ^ "Said Mechaal". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Garcia, Alvaro (12 October 2025). "Said Mechaal shines in the Paris 20K, comes close to Carlos Mayo's Spanish record and breaks another held by Ndikumwenayo". Runners World. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Spanish record and Said Mechaal's outburst: "It's thanks to the United States and ADA Calvià-Vistasol"". diariodemallorca.es. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "NCAA Division I Indoor Championships". World Athletics. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ Johnson, Weldon (23 November 2024). "2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships Men's Results". Lets Run. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Said Mechaal, podium finish and record in the Paris 20km race". Marca. 12 October 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ Mills, Steven (26 October 2025). "Under 59 minutes! Almgren shatters European half marathon record with 58:41 in Valencia". European Athletics. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Who is going to Lagoa? Qualifying places for Lagoa 2025 sealed around Europe". European Athletics. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Everything you need to know about #SpainAthletics for the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa". atletismorfea.es. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ Mills, Steven (11 January 2026). "European record! Almgren smashes his European 10km record with 26:46 in Valencia". European Athletics. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ^ Garcia, Alvaro (11 January 2026). "Saïd Mechaal shatters Ilias Fifa's Spanish 10K record in Valencia: "This is just the beginning"". Runners World. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ "Moroccan-Born Runner Shatters 32-Year-Old Spanish 1,500m Record". Bladi.net. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2026.