Cheptoyek and Chepkoech Elevate Women’s Race at tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj
The women’s race at the tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj, powered by Joma, has been dramatically strengthened with the late inclusion of Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek and Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech, two of the brightest young stars in world athletics.
Cheptoyek, fresh from her silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships earlier this year, arrives with an outstanding 10km best of 30:03, making her one of the fastest women ever to compete on Romanian soil.
Chepkoech, meanwhile, brings steeplechase pedigree as the 2021 World U20 champion and will make her highly anticipated debut over the distance.
Their presence adds extra sparkle to a race already rich with European contenders chasing qualification for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships.
Belgium’s Julie Voet, reigning national 10km champion, recently ran 31:54, while Ireland’s Fiona Everard is close behind with 31:58. Fellow Irish runner Niamh Allen, sixth in the European 10,000m Cup last month, and France’s Ines Hamoudi are also in strong form after recent personal bests.
Event organiser Daniel Santa welcomed the additions: ‘The arrival of Joy and Jackline has undoubtedly elevated the women’s race. Our mission is to bring top-class international road racing to Romania and Transylvania, and this event is the first step toward establishing Cluj as a world-class Running Festival.’
The men’s race is equally competitive, headlined by Morocco’s Hicham Amghar, who set his personal best of 27:09 at the Brasov sister event. He will face challenges from Norway’s Zerei Kbrom Mezngi, Italy’s Eyob Faniel, and the Netherlands’ Filmon Tesfu, among others.
With temperatures expected to reach the mid-20s due to a European heatwave, organisers have taken additional safety measures to protect all runners.
The tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj is a World Athletics Elite Label Race and forms part of the inaugural Cluj Running Festival, which also features children’s races and a 5km community run.
