NYRR Media Center

Olympian Klara Lukan will be making her New York Road Runners racing debut at the 2026 Mastercard New York Mini 10K, just weeks after winning the 10K Villa de Laredo in 29:51, a new European 10K record and the first time a European woman has run sub-30.

Lukan is a two-time European team champion, winning the 2025 5K event in 15:09 and the 2021 3,000 meters in 8:48. She has also won two Balkan and nine Slovenian titles in the 3,000 meters and 5K. In 2024, she represented Slovenia at the Paris Olympic Games in both the 5K and 10K events.

Lukan might be easy to spot on the course with her bright red hair, but she is more than just a gifted runner. Lukan has a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and a master’s in international business from the University of Ljubliana. She works part-time as a project manager for a software company.