French marathon record-holder Mekdes Woldu beat the heat and a strong international field in the women’s race at the tRUNsylvania International 10K Cluj, powered by Joma, on Sunday (28) morning.
Woldu, who was a late entrant into the race, prevailed in a thrilling three-way duel over the final kilometre of the four-lap race close to the centre of Cluj in 32:21, outsprinting Uganda’s 2026 world cross country silver medallist and pre-race favourite Joy Cheptoyek and Ethiopia’s Meselech Alemayehu.
Cheptoyek was credited with the same time of 32:21, official timing showing she was just under half-a-second in arrears, while Alemayehu, making her European race debut, was one second further back in 32:22.
"I knew I was in good shape after running 30:56 two weeks ago [on home soil in Langueux, France] but I soon realised that fast times were not going to be possible because it was so hot at the start," said Woldu, who reflected on the fact that the thermometer read 24 degrees Celsius as the gun went in Romania’s second city.
"However the heat came as no surprise, it’s been hot everywhere in Europe this week and I wanted just wanted another good race so I’m pleased," added the Frenchwoman, who had initially come to Cluj to attack the French 10km record of 30:52 set by Olympic triathlon champion Cassandre Beaugrand in April and which Woldu had just missed earlier this month.
Fellow Frenchwoman Ines Hamoudi was fourth in 32:41 with Irishwomen Niamh Allen and Fiona Everard fifth (32:48) and sixth (32:49) respectively.
In the men’s race which was won by Kenya’s Cyrus Kimaiyo in 28:22 by a clear margin over Moses Cheruiyot in 28:51, France’s Mehdi Frere ensured some European representation on the podium by finishing third in 28:55.
Photo courtesy of race organisers