site.btaKenya's Albert Tonui, Ruth Mbatha Finish First in 8th Free Spirit Run Giurgiu–Ruse

Kenyan athletes Albert Tonui and Ruth Mbatha finished first in the 8th international 15-kilometer road race Free Spirit Run Giurgiu–Ruse. Bulgarian runners also earned strong placements in the competition, which traditionally links the two Danube cities.

Tonui won the men’s race, finishing in 42 minutes and 51 seconds. Kenya’s Hillary Kimaiyo took second place with a time of 43:51, while Uganda’s Ismail Ssenyange secured third in 44:44. Bulgarians Ivan Andreev and Dobri Georgiev of the Dunav Ruse athletics club finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the women’s race, Mbatha crossed the line first in 50 minutes and 57 seconds. Marinela Nineva of the Lokomotiv Dryanovo athletics club placed second with 51:39, followed by Kenya’s Beatrice Sang in third at 53:24. Bulgarian athletes Atanaska Atanasova of Zelenata Stupka Razgrad and Milka Mihaylova of Dunav Ruse also finished among the top eight.

The race began in downtown Ruse, crossed the Danube Bridge, and concluded in Giurgiu’s central square, turning the event into a lively celebration for the region. The oldest participant was 79-year-old Ivan Grozev, who once again proved that age is just a number.

An award ceremony followed in Giurgiu’s central square, where prizes were presented by the deputy mayors of Ruse and Giurgiu—Borislav Rachev and Marian Damian —together with Evgeni Ignatov, chairperson of the Dunav athletics club. All finishers received a commemorative medal and T-shirt, while a prize fund of EUR 6,500 was distributed among the top performers.