Amghar Leads Men’s Field, Harrison and Chelimo Set for Women’s Showdown at tRUNsylvania 10K in Cluj
Morocco’s Hicham Amghar headlines the men’s field at the inaugural tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj, bringing with him the pedigree of a 27:09 personal best set in Brașov two years ago.
He will be joined by Norway’s Zerei Kbrom Mezngi, the 2022 European Championships silver medallist over 10,000m, and the Netherlands’ Filmon Tesfu, who recently clocked 2:06:40 at the Rotterdam Marathon.
Portugal’s Samuel Barata and Duarte Gomes, Kenya’s Moses Cheruiyot, and Spain’s Pol Espinosa add further depth to a men’s race stacked with international talent.
On the women’s side, local hopes rest on Romania’s Joan Chelimo Melly, silver medallist in the half marathon at the 2024 European Championships.
She will face stiff competition from Great Britain’s Samantha Harrison, who owns the fastest 10km personal best in the field at 30:51. Kenya’s Virginia Nyambura, a world cross country relay gold medallist, makes her road 10km debut after strong half marathon and track performances.
Ireland’s Fiona Everard and Niamh Allen, France’s Manon Trapp, Ethiopia’s Robe Dida, and Israel’s Maor Tiyouri round out a competitive women’s lineup.
The race, set for June 28 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s second city, is part of the new Cluj Running Festival.
Awarded World Athletics Elite Label status, it arrives just weeks before the qualification deadline for the 2026 European Athletics Championships, ensuring a high-calibre field chasing fast times on the flat city-centre course.
Event organiser Daniel Santa described the festival as ‘a dream come true,’ noting that international interest exceeded expectations. Alongside the elite races, the two-day festival will feature children’s events from 800m to 3km and a community 5km run.
The tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj will be live streamed with English commentary on the European Athletics YouTube channel and Romanian coverage via the event website, promising fans across the world a front-row seat to one of Europe’s newest road racing spectacles.
