Mario García (runner)

García hails from Villar de Gallimazo, a small town in Spain with a population of 200.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.

After graduating college, García relocated to Boulder, Colorado to train under coach Dathan Ritzenhein as part of the On Athletics Club.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[1] 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.^[6] The Spaniard ran his last track race of the year at the Prefontaine Classic, contesting the mile. He finished fourth in 3:47.69.

All information from World Athletics profile.^[7]

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time
Representing  Spain
2017	European U20 Championships	Grosseto, Italy	9th	1500 m	3:58.89
2018	World U20 Championships	Tampere, Finland	22nd (h)	1500 m	3:52.70
2021	European U23 Championships	Tallinn, Estonia	2nd	1500 m	3:40.11
2022	World Championships	Eugene, United States	4th	1500 m	3:30.20
	European Championships	Munich, Germany	3rd	1500 m	3:34.88
2023	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary	6th	1500 m	3:30.26
2024	World Indoor Championships	Glasgow, United Kingdom	11th	1500 m	3:40.48
	European Championships	Rome, Italy	19th (h)	1500 m	3:44.30

Outdoor^[7]

• 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)

Statistics sourced from athlete's profile on Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS).^[8]