Agnes Ngetich, a Kenyan athlete, has set a new women-only world half marathon record at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. She completed the race in 1:05:15, leading Veronica Loleo to a gold-silver finish for Kenya. Ngetich's impressive performance came as Kenyan athletes stunned the world with five individual medals, including her victory, which was the only individual gold in the two-day championships.
Ngetich's achievement adds to her decorated career, which includes a 10km world record of 28:46 set in Valencia in 2024. She improved the previous women-only half marathon world record held by Peres Jepchirchir, who won the world half marathon title in Gdynia in 2020. Ngetich had also set a 5km world record en route to the 2024 record in Valencia, showcasing her versatility as an athlete.
The World Road Running Championships saw Kenyan athletes dominate the men's and women's half marathon events. In the men's category, Nicholas Kipkorir settled for silver after being outpaced by Swedish athlete Andreas Almgren in a thrilling sprint. Almgren timed 58:06, while Kipkorir and Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei clocked 58:11 and 58:26 respectively for their silver and bronze medals.
The championships also saw Mirriam Cherop, the 2018 World Under-20 1,500m silver medallist, claim bronze in the women's One Mile road race on the opening day. Cherop ran 4:25.71, setting the pace for Kenya's medal hunt in Copenhagen. Caroline Gitonga added to Kenya's medal tally with silver in the women's 5km race, demonstrating the country's strong presence in road running events.
Ngetich's victory was met with excitement, as she described crossing the finish line with a world record by just one second as "unbelievable." She attributed her success to her training in Monaco a few months prior and expressed her satisfaction with adding another medal to her collection. Ngetich, the reigning world cross-country champion, emphasized that the medal was a perfect closure to her season.
Loleo, the silver medallist, expressed her ecstasy at claiming a medal in her debut championship. She credited her family and coach for their support and looked forward to another historic performance at the Valencia Half Marathon next month. Loleo acknowledged the challenging conditions of the race, including strong winds, but remained focused on her own pace to secure her medal.
The Kenyan team's performance at the World Road Running Championships is a testament to the country's continued dominance in road running events. With a total of five individual medals, Kenya has solidified its position as a leading force in the sport. Ngetich's world record and the team's overall performance have capped off an impressive season for Kenyan athletes.
Key points
- Agnes Ngetich sets women-only world half marathon record at World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark
- Kenyan athletes win five individual medals at the World Road Running Championships
- Ngetich's achievement adds to her decorated career, which includes a 10km world record set in Valencia in 2024
