© Copyright – 2022 – Athletics Illustrated
Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir won the Brasov 10km in a new course record time of 26:51.
The performance places him in fifth in the world all-time rankings. The 23-year-old smashed the Brasov Running Festival course record of 28:40 from last year which also stood as the fastest time on Romanian soil. Weldon Langat and Isaac Kibet Ndiema both finished in the time of 26:55, for second and third place respectively. The Kenyan duo now shares seventh place in the world rankings.
Kipkorir passed through 5K in 13:27.
The Kenyans Nicholas Kimeli (26:51) and Sheila Chepkurui (30:07) have crashed WA Elite label 10K Race course records in Brasov, Romania. Kimeli has standing 10K all-time fifth place now. pic.twitter.com/b1jaDNIK4T
— Atletizm Dünyası #SaveWater (@atletizmdunyasi) September 25, 2022
Kipkorir acknowledged in the post-race interview 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.”
Kipkorir also owns the national 5K road record at 12:55, which he accomplished in April this year. His previous 10K personal best is 27:22. Kipkorir holds the 13th fastest men’s 5000m at 12:46.33. The world record is 12:35.36 by Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei. Cheptegei also holds the 10,000m record at 26:11.00. At age 21 Kipkorir ran 26:58.97. Expect more out of him soon.
He earned the silver medal in the 5000m at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and finished fourth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final.
At Brasov, while seven athletes finished under 28 minutes, Andrei Rusu of Romania arrived 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
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, just six 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 four 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 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.
Results
Men
1 Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli KEN 00:26:51
2 Weldon Langat KEN 00:26:55
3 Isaac Kibet Ndiema KEN 00:26:55
4 Daniel Tumaka Kosen KEN 00:27:19
5 Dennis Kibet Kityio KEN 00:27:35
6 Shadrack Ruto KEN 00:27:44
7 Egide Ntakarutimana BDI 00:27:45
8 Fredrick Yeko Domongole KEN 00:28:07
9 Brian Kwemoi KEN 00:28:11
10 Josphat Kipkorir Meli KEN 00:28:14
11 Andrei Rusu ROU 00:28:38
12 Alex George GBR 00:28:40
13 Nicolae Soare ROU 00:28:41
14 Pierre Couzinier FRA 00:28:46
15 Hiko Tonosa Haso IRL 00:28:55
Women
1 Sheila Chepkirui KEN 00:30:07
2 Agnes Ngetich KEN 00:30:30
3 Sarah Chelangat UGA 00:30:31
4 Brenda Tuwei KEN 00:31:35
5 Faith Cherono KEN 00:31:49
6 Veronica Loleo KEN 00:31:52
7 Stella Rutto ROU 00:32:04
8 Sheila Jebiwott KEN 00:32:27
9 Elle Twentyman GBR 00:33:58
10 Liliana Dragomir ROU 00:34:02
11 Devora Avramova BUL 00:35:10
12 Denisa Dragomir ROU 00:36:04
The Brasov Running Festival is scheduled for September 10, 2023.
