Pari gbolohun ti o tẹle: Mekhissi-Benabbad ṣe ifarahan akọkọ rẹ bi elere idaraya ọdọ kan ni ọdun 2004, nṣiṣẹ ni 2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, nibi ti o ti jẹ 61st ni ere-ije ọdọ, ati ni 2004 World Junior Championships nibi ti o ti yọ kuro ni awọn ooru ti 3000 m steeplechase. Ó sáré nínú ìdíje 1500 metres ní
2006 European Cup, níbi tí ó ti parí ní kẹjọ. Mekhissi-Benabbad soju fun France ni 2006 IAAF World Cup, sugbon o nikan ni anfani lati pari kẹjọ ninu awọn 1500 m iṣẹlẹ.