Mario García Romo (born 29 June 1999) is a Spanish middle-distance runner, who specializes in the 1500 metres. He was the national champion in the event in 2022, and he represented Spain in the 1500 m at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, finishing fourth and sixth.
García competed collegiately for the University of Mississippi, where he won a national title in the mile at the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. After graduating in 2022, he joined the On Athletics Club as a professional runner for On Running.
Early life and collegiate competition García hails from Villar de Gallimazo, a small town in Spain with a population of 200. He relocated to the United States in 2018 to attend the University of Mississippi, pursuing a degree in chemistry. While at the university, he competed in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). His older brother, Jamie, also participated in NCAA athletics for Eastern Kentucky University.
While at the University of Mississippi, García was a 7-time NCAA Division I All-American and 6-time Southeastern Conference champion in cross country and track. He won a national title in the indoor mile at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, running 4:07.54 to narrowly edge Morgan Beadlescomb for the win. He was runner-up in the 1500 m at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. While still a student, García was also the silver medalist in the 1500 m at the 2021 European Athletics U23 Championships.
Professional
2022
After graduating college, García relocated to Boulder, Colorado to train under coach Dathan Ritzenhein as part of the On Athletics Club. At the Spanish National Championships, García won the 1500 meters in 3:35.52, qualifying him for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he finished fourth in the final. Later that year, he earned a bronze medal in the 1500 m at the European Athletics Championships.
2023
On the 15 June, García set a personal best of 3:29.18 in the 1500 m at the Bislett Grames to finish fifth. The following month, he placed third in the Spanish Championships, qualifying him for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. On 23 August, he finished sixth in the 1500 final of these championships in 3:30.26. The following month, on 8 September, García set a national record over 2000 m with his time of 4:49.85. The Spaniard ran his last track race of the year at the Prefontaine Classic, contesting the mile. He finished fourth in 3:47.69.
Achievements All information from World Athletics profile.
International competitions Representing 2017European U20 ChampionshipsGrosseto, Italy9th1500 m3:58.892018World U20 ChampionshipsTampere, Finland22nd (h)1500 m3:52.702021European U23 ChampionshipsTallinn, Estonia2nd1500 m3:40.112022World ChampionshipsEugene, United States4th1500 m3:30.20European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany3rd1500 m3:34.882023World ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary6th1500 m3:30.262024World Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom11th1500 m3:40.48European ChampionshipsRome, Italy19th (h)1500 m3:44.30Olympic GamesParis, France11th (repechage)1500 m3:37.01
Personal bests Outdoor 800 m: 1:46.90 (Oxford, MS 2022) 1500 m: 3:29.18 (Oslo 2023) Mile: 3:47.69 (Eugene, OR) 2000 m: 4:49.85 (Brussels, Belgium 2023) NR 3000 m: 7:47.56 (Nashville 2022) 5000 m: 13:56.69 (Memphis 2020) Indoor 1500 m: 3:35.98 (New York City 2023) Mile: 3:51.79 (New York 2023) NR 3000 m: 7:34.74 (Boston, MA 2023)
NCAA Statistics sourced from athlete's profile on Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS).Mario Garcia Romo's Ole Miss XC & Track Results TFRRS Representing Ole Miss Rebels2022NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon2nd1500m3:45.692022NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsBirmingham, Alabama1stMile4:07.5420212021 NCAA Division I Cross Country ChampionshipsTallahassee, Florida46th10 km29:36.12021NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon5th1500m3:38.6620212020 NCAA Division I Cross Country ChampionshipsStillwater, Oklahoma30th10 km30:35.22021NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsFayetteville, Arkansas2ndDMR9:20.753rd30007:48.592019NCAA Division I Cross Country ChampionshipTerre Haute, Indiana111th10 km32:04.22019NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsAustin, Texas90th1500m3:59.502019NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsBirmingham, Alabama8thDMR9:35.452018NCAA Division I Cross Country ChampionshipMadison, Wisconsin154th10 km31:04.5
Notes
References
External links
Mario García at RFEA
Mario Garcia at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics Mario García – COE – Paris 2024