Thrilling photo-finish and national history highlight men’s tRUNsylvania International 10K in Brasov

The fast and flat loop streets of Brașov, Romania delivered another legendary chapter in elite distance running on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The sixth edition of the tRUNsylvania International 10K—the crown jewel event of the annual Brașov Running Festival—brought together a world-class field of elite African and European athletes chasing history under World Athletics Elite Label conditions.

Just hours after the women’s race concluded with an Ethiopian sweep, the men’s elite division mirrored that dominance. The race culminated in a breathtaking tactical chess match and an absolute photo-finish thriller on the final straightway. Emerging at the top of the podium was 20-year-old rising superstar Khairi Bejiga, who successfully defended his crown to cement his name as the most dominant competitor in the event’s history.

From the sound of the starting gun, the intent of the elite field was unmistakable. Guided by an aggressive, world-class pace group, a pack of twelve premier runners broke away early from the rest of the field, pushing the tempo under optimal autumn racing conditions. Navigating the sweeping turns of the flat road course, the athletes clocked blistering split times that put sub-27:10 marks well within reach.

As the race crossed the final kilometers, the field began to splinter under the relentless pressure of a surging Ethiopian faction. By the final 800 meters, the race boiled down to a furious, shoulder-to-shoulder sprint. Champion Khairi Bejiga matched strides with his primary training partner, Nibret Kinde, in a dramatic battle for supremacy.

Both athletes threw themselves toward the line in a desperate final dip. Ultimately, Bejiga’s championship experience carried him across just one step ahead. Bejiga stopped the clock at a spectacular 27:01 to claim consecutive titles, while Kinde followed an agonizing single second behind to secure the runner-up spot in 27:02. Shortly behind the lead duo, Ayele Tadesse completed the full podium sweep for Ethiopia, crossing the finish line in a brilliant 27:10.

The quality of the 2026 tRUNsylvania field extended far beyond the top three podium steps. Running a tough, isolated tactical race just behind the leading trio was Kenya’s Amos Kipkemoi Bett. Bett showcased incredible resilience over the closing stretch, fighting off a late-race surge from the chasing pack to secure a highly commendable fourth-place finish with a time of 27:13.

Right behind him, history was rewritten for East African running. Djibouti’s Hani Idriss Hersi completed the top five in spectacular fashion. Crossing the line at 27:16, Hersi’s fifth-place performance officially shattered the Djibouti 10km Road National Record. His mark underscored the global tier of talent attracted to the Romanian city, proving that Brașov has truly evolved into a premier destination for athletes aiming to break national and personal records.

Further down the order, the depth of the field remained historic, with Kenya’s Laban Kiptoo Kosgei finishing sixth in 27:21 and Victor Okoth Otieno taking seventh in 27:22. In total, the top ten finishers all crossed the line under the 27:35 threshold, highlighting the incredible elite standard of the loop course.

Finals Standings at the men’s tRUNsylvania International 10K in Brasov
1. Khairi Bejiga (Ethiopia) – 27:01
2. Nibret Kinde (Ethiopia) – 27:02
3. Ayele Tadesse (Ethiopia) – 27:10
4. Amos Kipkemoi Bett (Kenya) – 27:13
5. Hani Idriss Hersi (Djibouti) – 27:16 (New Djibouti National Record)

With his victory on October 4, Khairi Bejiga achieved a milestone never before seen at the event. Across the six-year history of the Brașov Running Festival, no runner—male or female—had ever managed to successfully defend their title in back-to-back editions. Bejiga’s historic double, paired with Asefu Abreha’s stellar victory in the women’s division, secured a momentous double-triumph for Ethiopian road running on the European continent.

As the event closes another successful year, the combination of world-class organization, scenic Transylvanian backdrops, and an undeniably fast elite course cements the tRUNsylvania International 10K as an absolute powerhouse in the global road racing calendar.