Brasov, 5 September 2023: Some of
Europe’s top men’s middle-distance runners will be in action and
chasing a European record at the Brasov Running Festival’s
European Road Mile this coming Saturday (9 September).
The road mile became an official record event at the start of 2023
and the fastest European time on a record-legal course dates
back to 1975 when Sweden’s Ulf Hogberg ran 3:57.1 in London.
However, this could be within the grasp of the fastest man in the
men’s field is Andrew Coscoran, who reduced the Irish 1500m
record to 3:30.42 in July.
Also looking to become Ireland’s first European record holder for
more than 22 years – Sonia O’Sullivan having held the women’s
3000m record between 1994 and 2002 – will be Coscoran’s
compatriot and Irish 5000m record holder Brian Fay, who ran a
3:52.03 mile indoors (on an oversized track) in January,
Italy’s Mohad Abdikadar Sheik Ali, who reduced his 1500m
personal best to 3:33.79 in Padova on Sunday, will also be one to
watch.
Considerable interest will also be generated by the presence of
the Netherlands’ 20-year-old Stefan Nillessen, who was an
impressive winner of the European U23 1500m title last month.
In addition to a first prize of US$1000, there is a European record
bonus of US$2000 on offer to the first man across the line.
The European Road Mile elite field with 1500m (and, where
relevant, mile) personal bests is:
Men
Andrew Coscoran (IRL) 3:30.42 NR / 3:53.64i
Mohad Abdikadar Sheik Ali (ITA) 3:33.79
Robin Van Riel (NED) 3:37.17
Giovanni Filippi (ITA) 3:37.50
Maximilian Feist (GER) 3:37.82
Brian Fay (IRL) 3:38.39 / 3:52.03i (oversized)
Sam Blake (AUS - guest) 3:38.43
Ibrahim Erata (TUR) 3:38.53
Garrett O' Toole (USA- guest) 3:39.23
Stefan Nillessen (NED) 3:39.34
Yervand Mkrtchyan (ARM) 3:39.35 NR
Stephen Masindet (KEN - pace) 3:40.85
In addition, there will be an international women’s race as part of
the Brasov Running Festival on Saturday evening.
“With the Road Mile becoming a recognised record event, we
have deliberately constructed a fast, record-eligible course and
have brought many of Europe’s top middle-distance runners to
Brasov because they want to write their name in the history
books,” commented Race Organiser Daniel Santa.
The European Road Mile will take place in the heart of Brasov, a
historic and picturesque Transylvanian city which can date its
origins back to the 13th century, and which is widely considered to
have some of the most beautiful architecture in central Europe.
All the races at the Brasov Running Festival over the weekend of 9-
10 September 2023 will take place against a backdrop of the
nearby towering Carpathian Mountains,
The Festival also features the Trunsylvania 10km – a World Athletics
Elite Label Race and the only road race of this status in Romania –
on Sunday 10 September.
The race made headlines around the world in 2022 with super-fast
times. As previously announced, Weldon Langat from Kenya is
determined to go one better than his second-place finish last year
and the 26:55 runner has his target the course record of 26:51 set
by his compatriot Nicolas Kimeli when winning in 2022.
His compatriot Agnes Ngetich (KEN) finished sixth in the World
Athletics Championships Budapest 23 10,000m on Saturday night
in a personal best of 31:34.83 and heads the women’s contenders
for the Trunsylvania 10km.
In addition to the Trunsylvania 10km and European Road Mile –
the latter believed to be the first ever road mile race in Romania –
the Brasov Running Festival will engage and involve non-elite
runners of all age-groups and abilities.
On Saturday 9 September there are 800m, 1200m and 3000m
children’s races while Sunday 10 September sees mass
participation 5km and 10km races.
Further details of all the Brasov Running Festival races, including
the Trunsylvania 10km and European Road Mile, can be found on
the event website: BrasovRun.ro.
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