Zak Mahamed (born 29 November 2000) is a British long distance and cross country runner.[1]

Zakariya Mahamed
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born (2000-11-29) 29 November 2000 (age 23)
Ethiopia
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Cross country, Long distance running
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)5000m: 13:24.83 (Huelva, 2024)
10,000m: 27:46.55 (London, 2023)
10k: 28.26 (Valencia, 2023)
Half Marathon: 1:03:32 (London, 2023)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Great Britain
European Cross Country Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Turin U23 race
Gold medal – first place 2022 Turin U23 team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lisbon U23 Team

Early and personal life

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Mahamed emigrated from Ethiopia to Southampton in England with his family in 2011. He runs for Southampton Athletics Club and studied at Southampton Solent University. His brother Mahamed Mahamed is also an international runner.[2][3][4]

Career

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Mahamed won gold as part of the British U23 team at the 2019 European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon.[5] Mahamed was selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland.[6] The following year, Mahamed won silver at the European Cross Country U23 race in Turin, Italy.[7][8]

In 2023, he set new personal best times over 5000m (13:47.43), 10,000m (27:56.70), 5 km (13:57), 10 km (28:24), 10 miles (46:41) and the half marathon (63:32).[9]

He set a new 10,000 metres personal best of 27:46.55 in London in May 2024.[10] That month, he was selected to run the 10,000 metres for Britain at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Zak Mahamed". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. ^ Williams, Adam (4 October 2018). "Mahamed Mahamed: Mo Farah-inspired distance runner looking to emulate idol". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ Moss, Emily (March 5, 2016). "Sibling success for Mahamed and Zakariya Mahamed". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  4. ^ "SOLENT STUDENT SET TO COMPETE IN THE 2021 EURO CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS". Solent.ac.uk. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  5. ^ Crumley, Euan (December 8, 2019). "Five is the magic number at European Cross". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  6. ^ Puri, Shivalika (17 December 2021). "Southampton Student Competes in the Euro Cross Country Championships". Daily Echo. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  7. ^ "GB's Cairess claims European cross country silver". BBC Sport. 2022-12-11. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  8. ^ Turnbull, Simon (2022-12-11). "Report | Battocletti and Hicks reign again in the U23 races in La Mandria Park". European Athletics. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  9. ^ Barden, Katy (December 8, 2023). "How they train: Zak Mahamed". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  10. ^ Henderson, Jason (May 19, 2024). "Megan Keith seals Olympic selection in Night of the 10,000m PBs thriller". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ "KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON NAMED IN STRONG GB & NI TEAM FOR EUROPEANS ROME 2024". British Athletics. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.