by Deji Ogeyingbo
This is our fifth COROS Athletes Watch, and the focus is Mohammed Katir, the 1,500m/5000m specialist from Spain. Mo Katir will be racing in the 1,500m Men’s final on July 19, 2022, at 7.50 PM Local time. Mohammed ran smartly in both rounds of the 1,500 meters and is poised to race well in the last final on July 19.
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Mohammed Katir is on a mission to make history for Spain at the World Championships.
Updated August 23, 2022
Mohamed Katir El Haouzi, born in Morocco on February 17, 1998, and living in Mula (Murcia) since the age of five, has revolutionized the Spanish running in the last three years.
People began to take notice of his exploits only last year when he burst into the limelight at the Olympics, in which he finished 8th in the men’s 5000m final. At that point, people began to inquire much about this Spanish runner who seemed to have gone under the radar.
Katir looked like a Hicham El Guerrouj reincarnate. The Moroccan still holds the world records for 1500m, 2000m, and the mile. But is he really that good, and can he make a mark at the World Championships in Eugene?
On January 29, 2021, at the World Indoor Gold Tour in Karlsruhe, he achieved the best European record of the year and the third best Spanish record in history with 7: 35.29 in the 3000m.
Six months later, Katir broke Spain’s National Record in the 5000m, running a time of 12:50.79s. On July 9th of last year, he took down Fermín Cacho’s NR in the 1500m, which had stood for over 30 years, hitting a very solid time of 3:28.76s.
These two record-breaking performances were incredible; however, it was in the 3000m at the Muller Diamond league in Gateshead that the running world began to take note of his exploits. He had a lot of momentum heading into the race. It was a straight battle between Stewart McSwayne and Katir.
Adam Clarke paced the race perfectly through the opening kilometer in 2:30.60, and McSweyn was ahead at 2000m in 5:03.74, but Katir was always on his shoulder. The Australian ran 59.32 three laps out and 58.83 for the penultimate circuit, but Katir was still full of running and ran his last lap inside 55.82, which meant his last three laps were inside 2:53, and the last kilometer was 2:23.90.
Katir ended up running 7:27.64 for the win to set a Spanish record and stadium record.
Katir ended his 2021 on a high note as he became the first Spaniard since Chema Martínez was crowned in the 2003 edition to win the 10k at the Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana race.
During the race, Katir progressively moved to the front and shortly after the seventh km (19:17) made a first serious attack which could be matched only by Kwizera, while Kenya’s Shadrack Koech and Spain’s Nassim Hassaous began their own battle for third place.
Once at the uphill section of the race, Katir took command and gradually opened up a gap over Kwizera. By the time Katir crossed the line in 27:45, he had built a 10s advantage over Kwizera, who in turn was 10 seconds ahead of Hassaous.
“It’s great to win such a prestigious race, but I’m not at my peak yet,” said Katir, the Spanish record-holder at 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m. “I’m now loading mileage and hope to be in top form in February when I would like to take part in several World Indoor Tour meets.”
Katir has continued his run this year, competing in races ranging from 1500m to 5000m. It is, however, in the 1500m that he will hope to get on the podium. He is currently ranked number seven in the world over the event as he will hope to get on the podium when the final takes place on the 19th of July.
Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen is undoubtedly the favorite for the win. Ingebrigtsen only got fourth place at the last world championships and will be looking to make amends.
Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera will lead the Ethiopian challenge over the distance, and the two-time world indoor champion will be looking to win his first global outdoor medal, though he might need to shake off some rust when it comes to the 1500m, given he has only raced over 3000m and 5000m since that victory in Belgrade in March.
Still, Katir can dream. He knows deep down that his progress in the last three years has led him to this point. And when he lines up in the men’s 1500m, he might just make history yet again for Spain.
Update: Mohammed had a busy summer. Two global championships and two global medals. In the World Championships’ 1,500 meters, Mohammed Katir ran a gutty race, taking bronze as Jake Wightman outdueled Jakob Ingebrigtsen in that titanic 1,500m. At the European Championships, Mohammed Katir came along with Jakob Ingebrigtsen with 200m to go and battled until the last 50 meters, taking silver in the European Championships 5000 meters! We think that we will see Mohammed next i the final Diamond League meets of 2022!
Mohammed Katir is sponsored by COROS.
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