Competitive fields announced for Brasov 10km

As the road race season is underway, Brasov Running Festival 10km, a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race to be held on 25 September, promises to be one of the competitive events in autumn.

The historic city of Brasov situated in the Transylvania region of Romania is set to host clashes between some strong athletes. Weldon Langat of Kenya is the fastest man on the field. The 24-year-old ran a career best of 27:21 in Herzogenaurach in April this year. His compatriot Isaac Kibet Ndiema, who is a newcomer to road racing, achieved a time of 27:45 in his debut in Prague on 3 September. 

Ethiopia’s Mogos Tuemay is also one of the candidates for the title. The African champion in 10000m in June boasts of a 27:50 PB from last year.

The favourites will face strong competition at least from two other rivals. Alex George, the British European U20 champion in 2015, proved to be in good shape this year by running the 5000m in 13:33.25 in June. Benard Kibet Yegon, who has a PB of 13:44 in 5km, will debut in the longer distance in Brasov.

Sheila Chepkirui is the most decorated runner on the women’s field. The Kenyan, who currently ranks 6th in the World Athletics Road Running rankings, bagged a World U18 Championships gold medal, an African Championships gold medal, and a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in her successful career. The 31-year-old ran her best 10km with 29:46 in Valencia in 2020.

Two other women in the line-up have bettered 31 minutes. Still a teenager, Kenyan Faith Cherono equalled the African U20 record by 30:50 in Herzogenaurach about four months ago. Cherono was placed third in Prague earlier this month with a time that is 2 seconds shy of her PB. Aberash Minsewo of Ethiopia, World U18 champion over 3000m in 2017, ran 30:58 in Lille last year when she debuted in road races.

Other contenders on the women’s side include Kenya’s Esther Borura (31:02), Ugandan Sarah Chelangat (31:11), as well as local favourite Stella Rutto (15:06:93 this summer on 5000m).

Marathon legend Mary Keitany is the official ambassador of the race, and she will be in Brasov to witness the performances of the new road running stars. Brasov Running Festival comprises a variety of road races, the longest being the World Athletics Elite Label 10km scheduled for Sunday, 25 September. Other races include kids and junior’s races from 800m to 5k. 

More information on the event is available on: https://brasovrun.ro/en.

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