Douae Ouboukir broke her own women’s course record at the Cursa de la Mercè 10K in Barcelona, clocking 32:52 to shave 47 seconds off her previous benchmark, according to race reports. In the men’s division, Roger Súria secured victory with a time of 29:59, capping off a 48th edition of the street race that drew 17.200 registered participants through the Catalan capital.
The event brought thousands of runners out onto the asphalt of Barcelona, taking over a major urban artery for one of the city’s annual distance races. According to race reporting from local outlets, the course kicked off on Carrer d’Aragó at the intersection with Pau Claris, offering a wide start line designed to safely absorb the massive field before weaving its way toward the finish line at Plaça de Catalunya.
Ouboukir Dominates Women’s Field with Record Run
Douae Ouboukir wasted little time establishing her dominance at the front of the women’s race. Running largely in isolation from the opening kilometers, the Moroccan athlete maintained a relentless pace that left the rest of the field scrambling to keep contact.
Coverage of the event noted that Ouboukir held a 34-second advantage over her closest challenger, Angelica Prestia, by the midway point of the 10-kilometer route. She never relented, ultimately stopping the clock at 32:52—though some regional accounts note a slightly varied official electronic time of 32:49. Either figure marks an improvement over her winning performance from the previous year, slicing nearly 50 seconds off her prior personal best on the Barcelona course.
Súria Navigates Tactical Battle to Claim Men’s Crown
The men’s race played out as a tactical affair before breaking open in the later stages. An elite lead group of eight runners initially formed at the front of the pack, setting an early tempo.
As the race progressed past the opening markers, that lead pack condensed to four runners: Xavier Badia, Roger Súria, Mohamed Nouri, and Aziz Haddaj. It was at this juncture that Súria launched a decisive surge. Breaking away from Badia and Nouri, the runner from Agramunt established a gap that he protected all the way to the finish line, clocking a winning time of 29:59—near the 30-minute mark recorded in official race summaries—to secure the men’s trophy.
Record Attendance and Community Inclusion
The 48th edition of the Cursa de la Mercè will be remembered for its scale as well as its elite performances. Race organizers confirmed a historic turnout, with 17.200 participants signing up for the weekend events, and more than 17.000 runners physically crossing the starting line on Carrer d’Aragó.
Beyond the elite 10K showdown, the sports festival emphasized broad community access through specialized companion events. The schedule featured a 2-kilometer inclusive race tailored for individuals with disabilities or reduced mobility, alongside a non-competitive family run measuring roughly one mile, designed to encourage multi-generational participation in the heart of Barcelona.
