Van Riel out to follow in brother's footsteps at the Brasov Running Festival's European Road Mile

Brasov, Romania, 18 September

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Rick van Riel will be bidding continue the family tradition at this year’s European Road Mile on Saturday 21 September, following in the footsteps of his older brother Robin who won the inaugural title last year’s Brasov Running Festival.

Robin won a sprint finish in 2023 to defeat several better-known runners and a quick turn of speed clearly runs in the Dutch family’s genes as Rick comes to Brasov in fine form having reduced his 800m personal best to 1:45.77 and his mile best to 3:56.28 in races on the track at the end of August.

However, van Riel will face some strong opposition with three runners having run quicker than him over the metric mile, the 1500m.

Heading the European Road Mile men's field on 1500m times is Spain’s Ignacio Fontes, who made the finals of the 2020 Olympic Games, 2022 World Athletics Championships and was the 2019 European U23 champion with a personal best of 3:33.27.

France’s Romain Mornet, a 2024 European Athletics Championships finalist who set a personal best of 3:33.98 earlier this summer, has tuned up for Brasov with an outing in New York’s downhill but famous Fifth Avenue Mile in 3:52. Great Britain’s James Gormley could also be in contention for honors. His 1500m best is ‘only’ 3:36.25 but he is the fastest man in the field over a mile on the track having run 3:53.69 last month.

In the women’s race, Romania’s local hope Cristina Balan finished second in 2023 and will be bidding to go one place be better on Saturday.

However, Gabija Galvydyte heads the women’s field and on paper looks to be the favourite with a 1;59.18 800m personal best set at the Olympic Games in Paris last month. The Lithuanian also has a 1500m best of 4:08.60, which makes her the fastest woman in the field.

In addition, there are two good Hungarian runners who have made the trip over the border, Lili Anna Vindics-Toth and Lilla Böhm.

The leading runners in the European Road Mile are (with 1500m personal bests) are:

MEN

Ignacio Fontes (ESP) 3:33.27 / 3:54.38 mile

Romain Mornet (FRA) 3:33.98

James Gormley (GBR) 3:36.25 / 3:53.69 mile

Rick van Riel (NED) 3:39.08 / 3:56.28 mile

Nicolae Marian Coman (ROU) 3:39:97

Balazs Vindics (HUN) 3:41.37

Dorin Andrei Rusu (ROU) 3:42.67

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WOMEN

Gabija Galvydyte (LTU) 4:08.60 / 1:59.18 800m

Lili Anna Vindics-Toth (HUN) 4:11.08

Lilla Böhm (HUN) 4:14.98

Ayca Fidanoglu (TUR) 4:17.15

Cristina Balan (ROU) 4:17:79

Alexandra Hudea (ROU) 4:18:35

“After the success of the inaugural European Road Mile last year, and the event’s increasing international popularity, we hope that the runners will be inspired in Brasov. I think a number of national records could be under threat on Saturday,” commented Race Director Daniel Santa.

The European Road Mile on Saturday 21 September and tRUNsylvania 10K - a World Athletics Elite Road Race - on Sunday 22 September are part of the Brasov Running Festival 2024.

The Festival takes place against the spectacular backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains and close to the centre of the historic and picturesque Transylvanian city which can date its origins back to the 13th century.

Both the European Road Mile and tRUNsylvania 10K will be streamed live via the Brasov Running Festival YouTube channel, which can be found here.

Details of all the Brasov Running Festival 2024 races, can be found on the event website: www.brasovrun.ro

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Contact:

Daniel Santa (Race Director and Event Organiser)

daniel.santa@comparty.org

+40 726 777 908

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