Jepchirchir Leads Star-Studded tRUNsylvania 10km Field

Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir will return to the tRUNsylvania 10K in Brasov on October 4, but this time as one of the leading contenders after a breakthrough 2026 season.

The 21-year-old Kenyan was a pacemaker at last year’s race before finishing eighth. She returns after winning the Valencia Ibercaja 10K in January in 29:25, the second-fastest 10km time in the world this year.

Jepchirchir has since backed up that performance with three more impressive 10km outings, including a victory in South Africa and runner-up finishes at major international races in India and South Africa.

She will face compatriot Nelvin Jepkemboi, another sub-30-minute runner enjoying a strong season.

Jepkemboi ran 29:45 for second at the Castellon 10K, clocked 14:59.68 for 5000m at the Doha Diamond League and finished second in the Buenos Aires Half Marathon in 1:05:06 last month.

The Kenyan pair will have their sights on the women’s course record of 30:07, set by Sheila Chepkirui in 2022.

However, the race is expected to be much more than a Kenyan battle, with several other elite athletes boasting personal bests below 31 minutes.

Ethiopia’s Axumawit Embaye, a two-time World Indoor Championships 1500m silver medallist, has switched her focus to road racing and ran 30:22 in Lille earlier this year.

Her compatriot Yenenesh Shimket, only 19, has run 14:48.02 for 5000m and 14:24 for 5km on the road this year, the latter ranking among the world’s fastest times in 2026.

South Africa’s Tayla Kavanagh and Djibouti’s Samia Hassan Nour will arrive in Brasov after strong performances at the World Athletics Road Running Championships 5km, where they finished fourth and eighth respectively.

Germany’s 2022 European 5000m champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen will also line up after improving her 10km personal best to 30:37 this year.

Other notable names include 2024 European Athletics Championships half marathon silver medallist Joan Chelimo Melly, French half marathon and marathon record-holder Mekdes Woldu, and Uganda’s Loice Chekwemoi.

With 14 women listed with personal bests of 32:40 or faster, including several athletes below 31 minutes, race director Daniel Santa expects another fiercely contested race.

The tRUNsylvania 10K is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and forms part of the two-day Brasov Running Festival in Romania.

The 2026 race will be streamed live with Romanian and English commentary.