The Netherlands’ Robin van Riel and Türkiye’s Emine Hatun Mechaal claimed victories in the Brasov Running Festival’s European Road Mile, winning in national records of 4:05.5 and 4:41.7 respectively on Saturday evening.
Mechaal was the first across the line as dusk started to fall over the Coresi district of the Romanian city in a well calculated win that saw the former European U20 cross country champion pull away from her nearest rivals over the final 100 metres.
“It was my first ever road mile, but I really enjoyed the experience and there was a lot of support from the crowd out there. It was a hard finish, but I just had enough left,” said Mechaal.
Romania’s Cristina Balan finishing second in 4:43.0 while reigning Greek 1500m champion Melissa Anastaskis was third in 4:44.0, both women also setting national records in an event that has had ‘official status’ since the start of the 2023,
Barely five minutes after the leading women crossed the line, it was the turn for the gun to go on the men’s race.
The leading pack were reluctant to go with the Kenyan pacemaker Stephen Masindet and went through 1km in 2:37.7, led by the Netherlands' 2023 European U23 1500m champion Stefan Nillessen which made the anticipated sub-four minute time and a world record a little unlikely.
In the end, van Riel – the 2019 European U20 1500m silver medallist who a week ago set a 1500m personal best of 3:36.61 in Padua, Italy – was able to outsprint his younger compatriot Nillessen in a thrilling duel as the finish line approached.
Van Riel clocked 4:05.5 to Nillessen’s 4:05.8 with Italy’s Giovanni Filippi third in 4:07.2.
“It’s a new distance and not so many people have run it before, but I like it, I like technical races, it’s almost like playing games and I like coming from behind. I feel this is more my event, where I can beat guys who have faster times on the track than me just by good tactics,” reflected van Riel.
Full results of all the races at the Brasov Running Festival, including the European Road Mile, can be found here.