Records fall at the Brasov Running Festival

Brasov Running Festival 10km met the high expectations with Kenyan athletes taking top honours. Having passed 5km in 13:27 Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli went on to win the race in 26:51, which places him in fifth in the world all-time rankings. The 24-year-old broke the Brasov Running Festival course record of 28:40 from last year which also stood as the fastest time on the Romanian soil. The fantastic race saw Weldon Langat and Isaac Kibet Ndiema finishing in 26:55, second and third respectively. The Kenyan duo now shares the seventh place in the world rankings.

Kipkorir Kimeli acknowledged the great potential of the fast-course in Brașov: “I hope that I can challenge the World Record one day here, the course is very flat and fast.”

While seven athletes finished under 28 minutes, Andrei Rusu of Romania came in eleventh in 28:38 to break the national record of 28:53 standing since 2019 when Ștefan Iulius Gavril ran in Dakhla, Morocco.

The women’s race was also outstanding. Sheila Chepkirui, whose personal best was a fast 29:46 in a mixed race in Valencia in 2020, broke the tape in 30:07, only six seconds shy of the women-only world record.

In her attempt to break the long-standing Romanian record, Stella Rutto failed in her bid just by 4 seconds finishing the race seventh in 32:04.

As a special guest and ambassador of the race, famous ex-marathoner Mary Keitany enjoyed running in the children’s race and presented the medals to the winners. “I really enjoyed the city, the weather, the atmosphere, the race, a great course and the excellent conditions for world-class running,” said Keitany.

The next Brasov Running Festival is scheduled for 10 September 2023.