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| Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 26 June: Romania’s second city Cluj-Napoca plays host to the most prestigious international athletics event the metropolis has ever staged when the tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj, powered by Joma, takes place this coming Sunday (28 June). The men’s race, on a fast four-lap circuit of Cluj’s vibrant city centre starting and finishing in the Cluj Arena, can boast of six runners who have gone under 28 minutes over the distance with Morocco’s Hicham Amghar leading the way. Amghar won the tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj’ssister event in Brasov two years ago in 27:09, which remains his personal best. In Cluj, he is expected to be challenged for honours by rivals from both Europe and Africa. Norway’s Zerei Kbrom Mezngi, the 2022 European Athletics Championships 10,000m silver medallist, and Italy’s former national half marathon and marathon record holder Eyob Faniel are looking to secure their qualification for this year’s continental showcase in August while the Netherlands’ Filmon Tesfu will drop down distance after his personal best of 2:06:40 in the recent Rotterdam Marathon. Cheptoyek and Chepkoech add class to Cluj The women’s race is arguably even classier with the recent addition of Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek and Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech to the elite field. Cheptoyek took the World Cross Country Championships silver medal in January and can boast of an outstanding 10km best of 30:03 while Chepkoech is the 2021 World U20 Championships 3000m steeplechase winner and there are high hopes she will shine on her debut at the distance. However, there is considerable European interest with the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships 10,000m qualifying time of 32:00 – performances on the road are eligible – at the back of many runners’ minds. Reigning Belgian 10km champion Julie Voet heads the European contenders with her recent personal best of 31:54 and Ireland’s Fiona Everard is just four seconds slower after her best of 31:58 in March. Everard’s compatriot Niamh Allen, sixth in the European 10,000m Cup on the track last month, and France’s Ines Hamoudi are also in fine form after recent personal best outings on the road and track. The leading runners for the tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj (with 10km personal bests at 25 June) are: MenHicham Amghar (MAR) Zerei Kbrom Mezngi (NOR) Mehdi Frere (FRA) Filmon Tesfu (NED) Juan Antonio Perez (ESP)Moses Cheruiyot (KEN) Eyob Faniel (ITA) Abderrazak Charik (ALG) Seare Weldezghi (ART/ERI) Noah Shutte (NED) Yago Rojo (ESP) James Whelan (AUS) Women Joy Cheptoyek (UGA) Julie Voet (BEL) Fiona Everard (IRL) Ines Hamoudi (FRA)Meselech Alemayehu (ETH)Beatriz Alvarez (ESP) Niamh Allen (IRL) Maor Tiyouri (ISR) Nursena Ceto (TUR) Lilla Bohm (HUN) Cristina Espejo (ESP) Jackline Chepkoech (KEN) 27:0927:39 27:4427:45 27:45 27:51 28:10 28:12 28:14 28.1928:2128.26 30;03 31:54 31:58 32:2032:2032:21.62 (track)32:2532:29 32:34.69 (track)32:41.41 (track) 32:52debut, 8:57.35 3000m steeplechase Live streaming in English and Romanian The tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj races will be live streamed with English-language commentary via the European Athletics YouTube channel and available with Romanian commentary via the event website. “There have been some changes to the start lists of elite races since they were first announced earlier this month,” commented the Event Organiser Daniel Santa. “But the arrival of Joy and Jackline have undoubtedly strengthened the women’s race and reinforces my continued commitment to bring top-class international road racing to Romania and Transylvania, augmenting our race in Brasov in the autumn.”The tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj 2026 is just the first step in establishing a world-class Running Festival in Cluj. “However, this week – like most of western and central Europe – Romania has been in the grip of a heatwave and conditions will be far warmer than we would have expected or wanted at this time of year. Temperatures are likely to be in the mid-20s on Sunday morning. “Consequently, we have taken extra measures to ensure that every runner, whether they are competing in the tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj or ourcommunity events, will be safe. Runners’ health and well-being is our number one priority above all else,” added Santa. The event website is here: https://www.clujrun.ro ThetRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj is a World Athletics Elite Label Race, with separate events for men and women. It is part of the inaugeral Cluj Running Festival which takes place throughout the weekend of 27-28 June and features top-class distance runners from nearly 20 countries. The two-day Running Festival, powered by Joma, also features a series of children’s races for all ages from 800m to 3km as well as a mass/community race over 5km. |