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| Bejiga and Jepchirchir the favourites: elite start list & how to watch the 2026 tRUNsylvania 10K Brasov, Romania, 2 October: Ethiopia’s Khairi Bejiga and Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir will return to the Romanian city of Brasov and the pair aim to enhance their growing reputations with eye-catching performances in the 2026 tRUNsylvania 10K on Sunday 4 October. Bejiga, 20, won the 2025 edition of the race in 26:54, the second fastest time ever on the super-quick three-lap course and the equal-third fastest mark of the year. He has gone on improve his 10km personal best to 26:51 in 2026, running that time on two occasions: firstly, when finishing second in the Spanish city of Valencia in January and then when winning in Lille, France, in April. Jepchirchir came to Brasov 12 months ago as a pacer but finished eighth before making a much bigger impact when she was the surprise winner of the 10K Valencia Ibercaja in January in 29:25, still the second fastest time of the year. The 21-year-old Kenyan then proved it was no fluke and has delivered three other outstanding 10km performances in 2026, winning a top-quality race in South Africa followed by excellent second place finishes in major international events in India and South Africa. Both runners will no doubt be standing on the start line on Sunday with the tRUNsylvania 10K course records in mind in addition to their principal targets of coming home in front of their rivals, with both races able to boast of strong elite fields. The men’s course record stands at 26:51 to Kenya’s Nicolas Kipkorir Kimeli from 2022, the same year that the current women’s course record of 30:07 was set by fellow Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui. The women’s tRUNsylvania 10K is at 0930 local time (0830 CEST / 0630 UTC). The men’s race is 45 minutes later at 1015 local time (0915 CEST / 0715 UTC).  Khairi Bejiga (ETH) after winning the 2025 tRUNsylvania 10K credit: Chiara Montesano/Brasov Running Festival How to watch the 2026 tRUNsylvania 10K Both races will be live streamed and available to watch internationally without any geo-blocking. The live stream with Romanian commentary will be available via the event website: www.brasovrun.ro The English-language live stream of the race with expert commentary by two-time World Cross Country Championships silver medallist Tim Hutchings will be available via the European Athetics YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@EuropeanAthletics/streams Live results of the 2026 tRUNsylvania 10K will also be available via the event website. The leading runners in the 2026 tRUNsylvania 10K, with 10km personal bests (or better track marks where relevant), are: MenKhairi Bejiga (ETH)Silas Senchura (KEN)Laban Kosgei (KEN)Kenneth Kiprop (UGA)Amos Bett (KEN)Kevin Chesang (KEN)Elisha Kiprop (KEN)Ayele Tadesse (ETH) Hani Idriss Hersi (DJI) Juan Antonio Perez (ESP) Ryo Goda (JPN) Victor Okoth (KEN)Edward Marks (AUS) 26:5126:5826:5927:0627:1127:17.80 (track)27:3327:4027:44 27:45 debut (27:48.22 track)27:50 27:54.98 (track) WomenBrenda Jepchirchir (KEN)Nelvin Jepkemboi (KEN)Aynadis Mebratu (ETH) Rahel Daniel (ERI)Axumawit Embaye (ETH)Samia Hassan Nour (DJI)Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI)Joan Chelimo Melly (ROU)Mekdes Woldu (FRA)Yenenesh Shimket (ETH)Rebecca Mwangi (KEN) Tayla Kavanagh (RSA)Loice Chekwemoi (UGA) Mastewal Muhabaw (ETH) 29:2529:45 30:05 30:12.15 (track) 30:22 30:40 30:42 30:52 30:56 30:59 (14:24 5km road) 31:13 31:26 32:40 (9:18.84 3000m s/c)debut (14:38.56 5000m) Race Director Daniel Santa has added Kenya’s Amos Bett, who has a 10km best of 27:11 and ran a half marathon best of 59:53 earlier this year in Barcelona, to the men’s elite field. Unfortunately, South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton, who had a thrilling head-to-head duel with Bejiga in 2025 before finishing second, is a late withdrawal from the previously announced men’s elite field, citing a lack of race fitness. Germany’s 2022 European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen is also a non-starter in Brasov after twisting an ankle earlier this week. The tRUNsylvania 10K. a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and the most prestigious 10km road race in southeast Europe, forms part of the two-day Brasov Running Festival which also features a series of community – incorporating children’s events and trail-to-road races – and national-level road races over various distances. The famous Brasov Running Festival has taken place annually since 2021 against the backdrop of the spectacular Carpathian Mountains and close to the centre of the historic and picturesque Transylvanian city, which can trace its origins back to the 13th century. Further details of both the 2026 tRUNsylvania 10K and Brasov Running Festival can be found via the event website: www.brasovrun.ro |