Kimeli, Chepkirui fly Kenyan flag high during Brasov 10km festival run
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Nicholas Kimeli and Africa’s 5000m champion Sheila Chepkirui were on Sunday crowned champions in men’s and women’s categories during the Brasov 10km festival run in the Romanian city of Brasov.
The duo shattered Romans all-time records. Having passed the 5km in 13:27, Kimeli went on to win the race in 26:51, which places him 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 Romanian soil.
The fantastic race saw Weldon Langat and Isaac Kibet Ndiema finishing in second and third position respectively. The Kenyan duo now shares a seventh place in the world rankings.
”I hope that I can challenge the World Record one day here, the course is very flat and fast,” Kimeli said.
In the women’s category Chepkirui, whose personal best was a fast 29:46 in a mixed race in Valencia in 2020, broke the tape in 30:07, only 6 seconds shy of the women’s only world record.
Agnes Ngetich was second in 30:30. Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat, the only non-Kenyan who made the podium, followed Ngetich one second later, in 30:31.
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, former marathoner Mary Keitany enjoyed running in the children’s race and presented the medals to the champions.
”I really enjoy the city, the weather, the atmosphere, the race, a great course and the excellent conditions for world-class running,” said Keitany, during an interview with the Romanian media.
