Outside the lecture hall, Al Awamleh is representing his native country of Jordan on the international stage
On any given day, Zaid Al Awamleh moves between two high-pressure occupations: that of a mechanical engineering student at McMaster University and that of a top-ranked Jordanian track athlete. While the difficulty isn’t lost on Al Awamleh, he emphasized that both are integral parts of his identity.
“I usually finish school at 2:30 and then start practice at 3, so it’s pretty tight. [But] being a student and being an athlete aren’t separate identities. They both shape who I am and how I approach my day-to-day life,” Al Awamleh said in an interview with the Silhouette.
I usually finish school at 2:30 and then start practice at 3, so it’s pretty tight. [But] being a student and being an athlete aren’t separate identities. They both shape who I am and how I approach my day-to-day life.
Zaid Al Awamleh, Mechanical Engineering and Business Student
International Jordanian Track Athlete
Al Awamleh has been running track for years, competing on his high school track team as well as a club team. He recalled the first time he felt he could compete at a higher level: a meet early in his high school track career.
“2019 at York University. It was my first 60-metre race without hurdles. My coach told me just hop in and see what time you get. I got a pretty solid time for someone who had never run an open 60 before, and since then, I decided to continue on the path and get to where I am today.”
Continuing on that path led him to his greatest career achievement yet: representing Jordan at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Second only to the Olympics in prestige, the championship brought together the fastest sprinters across the globe, the majority of whom were backed by years of training and resources. For Al Awamleh, an athlete who comes from a background of school alongside sports, the experience was equally humbling and motivating.
“Being lined up with the world’s best can be intimidating, but if you’re there, you’ve earned it. I was still a student from McMaster competing against athletes who get paid millions to train. It reminded me to be grateful for my opportunities and focus on improving myself, not comparing myself to others.”
Being lined up with the world’s best can be intimidating, but if you’re there, you’ve earned it. I was still a student from McMaster competing against athletes who get paid millions to train. It reminded me to be grateful for my opportunities and focus on improving myself, not comparing myself to others.
Zaid Al Awamleh, Mechanical Engineering and Business Student
International Jordanian Track Athlete
Al Awamleh participated in the 100m preliminary heats representing Jordan. As the country’s fastest man, he emphasized that the sport is as much of a mental game as it is physical.
“The pressure of competition sometimes gets to a lot of athletes. You have to be able to take what you learn in practice and apply it during a race. That mental transition — staying calm, staying focused — is just as important as speed.”
Beyond the track, Al Awamleh recognizes his place as a Jordanian athlete and makes an effort to encourage the next generation of young talent.
“It’s important for me to be able to push Jordanian kids to believe in themselves and give it their all. A lot of younger athletes reach out to me on Instagram for advice, and if I can help in any way, I will.”
It’s important for me to be able to push Jordanian kids to believe in themselves and give it their all. A lot of younger athletes reach out to me on Instagram for advice, and if I can help in any way, I will.
Zaid Al Awamleh, Mechanical Engineering and Business Student
International Jordanian Track Athlete
While balancing being a student, athlete and a guiding figure, Al Awamleh simultaneously sets his sights on the future: one that includes breaking the 10-second mark on the 100m dash, the auto-qualifying time for the Olympics.
“The main goal for the next two years is breaking 10 seconds. If I achieve that, I can solidify my name on the global stage and continue competing internationally, all while finishing my degree and pursuing a career in engineering.”
Al Awamleh’s journey is a reminder to student-athletes that academics need not be a barrier to athletic competition, but rather a foundation that supports excellence beyond the finish line.
