The 47th edition of Barcelona’s Cursa de la Mercè ended in triumph, with both the men’s and women’s records smashed on a rainy Sunday morning.
Australian runner James Whelan stunned the field by storming through the 10-kilometre course in 29 minutes and 4 seconds, cutting 16 seconds off the previous men’s record set in 2023 by Moroccan Mohamed El Ghazouany. Whelan, 29, surged from the start and finished alone at Plaça de Catalunya, more than a minute and a half ahead of his closest rivals. Spaniards Artur Bossy and Marc Fernández completed the podium in second and third place respectively.
In the women’s race, Moroccan athlete Douae Ouboukir also rewrote the record books, crossing the line in 33 minutes and 39 seconds. Her time bettered the 2024 mark of 34 minutes and 34 seconds by Catalan runner Cristina Silva. Silva still managed a strong second place this year, followed closely by Argentina Oria de Rueda in third.
The race, part of the global Bimbo event, drew more than 14,500 participants, making it the largest edition in its history and surpassing the 13,000 entrants recorded in 2024. The new circular and faster course in central Barcelona contributed to the record-breaking times, even with early rainfall.
The Cursa de la Mercè has long been one of the city’s most beloved sporting events, blending elite competition with mass participation, and 2025 will be remembered as a landmark year in its history.
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