2024 European half marathon silver medallist and Romanian marathon record-holder Joan Chelimo Melly and French marathon record-holder Mekdes Woldu lead the European interest in the tRUNsylvania International 10K Brasov on Sunday (4) morning.
The tRUNsylvania International 10K Brasov will be streamed live on the European Athletics YouTube channel without any restrictions from 8:25am CEST (9:25am local time) and will be accompanied by English-language commentary.
2022 European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany withdrew this week after rolling her ankle, but it doesn't detract from a strong female entry.
The 10km in Brasov will have a separate women's start with the women's race beginning proceedings at 9:30am local time with the men's race due to start at 10:15am.
The women's entry-list which is headed by the Kenyan duo of Brenda Jepchirchir and Nelvin Jepkemboi, both of whom possess lifetime bests under the 30 minute-barrier.
A pacemaker in last year’s race, Jepchirchir went on to win the Valencia 10K Ibercaja in January a lifetime best of 29:25 while Jepkemboi finished second in the Castellon 10K in 29:45. Both races were also streamed live on the European Athletics YouTube channel.
Home hope Melly is due to race for the first time this season after injury and France's Woldu already has a notable victory on Romanian soil this year. As a late entrant, Woldu prevailed in sweltering conditions in the Cluj 10K in late June in a sprint finish in 32:31.
The men’s 10km entry-list features five athletes who have broken the 27 minute-barrier on the roads including Ethiopia’s Khairi Bejiga and South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton who finished first and second last year in 26:54 and 26:55 respectively.
Bejiga improved to 26:51 in the Valencia 10K in January to finish second behind Andreas Almgren who won in a European record of 26:45.
In the same race, Said Mechaal finished seventh in a Spanish record of 27:25 which makes the 28-year-old the fastest European athlete on the entry-list.
Other familiar names on the entry-list for the men's 10km in Brasov include fellow Ethiopians Kuma Girma and Getnet Wale.
Jepkosgei targeting a fast half marathon in Cardiff
Former London and New York Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei from Kenya is the outstanding favourite for the women’s race in the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday (4).
The Cardiff Half Marathon will be streamed live on the European Athletics YouTube channel without any restrictions from 10.40am CEST (9.40am local time) and will be accompanied by English-language commentary.
Jepkosgei is just as renowned - if not more renowned - for her exploits at the half marathon. She became the first woman in history to break the 65 minute-barrier with 64:52 in 2017 and has since improved to 64:12, a time which makes her the eighth fastest in history.
The elite women’s field also includes Ethiopia’s Wede Kefale and fellow Kenyan Winnie Kimtuai who possess lifetime bests of 65:20 and 67:03 respectively while the elite men’s field is headed by reigning champion Yismaw Dillu from Ethiopia.
Local interest with centre on Welsh marathon record holder Natasha Wilson, who finished fifth in the women's marathon at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, helping Great Britain to team gold.