The 2023 World cross country champion, Agnes Ng'etich, says lowering the women-only 10km road race record will fuel her ambitions for the Tokyo World Championships
On Saturday, Ng'etich underlined her growing dominance on the roads by rewriting the record books at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, clocking 29:27 to break the women-only 10K record
The 24-year-old's mark eclipsed that of the late Agnes Tirop of 30:01 set in 2021. Ethiopians Fantaye Belayneh (30:30) and Senayet Getachew (30:31) completed the podium.
Ngetich became the first woman in history to dip under 30 minutes in a women-only 10K road race.
After her stunning run, Ng'etich made it clear her sights are firmly set on making the Kenyan team for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships after missing the Olympics.
"Since I missed the Olympics, this year I am eager to fight hard for the World Championships slot."
"This is now the start, and I am so happy with today's results," Ng'etich said. Already, Ng'etich has checked the qualifying mark for Tokyo off her list, having clocked 30:03 to win at the Adizero Road to Records 10K on April 27, comfortably dipping under the 30:20 standard.
Should she make the cut, Ng'etich will be hoping for an improved performance in only her second appearance on the global stage after a sixth-place finish (31:34.83) in Budapest 2023.
Remarkably, Ng'etich now owns both the women-only and mixed 10km world records, having run 28:46 at the Valencia 10K in 2024.
Reflecting on the road race in Germany, a speechless Ng'etich noted she had not expected to break the record after falling short during last year's edition.
"I am so excited after getting the World record, I am speechless. I did not expect this since I missed it last year by a few seconds," Ngetich said.
Encouraged by her form during the race, Ng'etich pushed herself solo against the clock. "But I told myself I should try it today, I can push alone and make it, and I am so proud of myself, and I thank God I have finished with the World record, it's unbelievable," Ngetich said.
Ng'etich has also been in flying form on the track since the start of the season. At the inaugural Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, Jamaica, Ngetich doubled in the 3,000m and 5,000m.
She clocked 8:28.75 to finish second in the 3,000m behind Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye (8:28.42), before again finishing second in the 5,000m in 14:59.80.
Meanwhile, Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi thrilled the crowd in the men’s one-mile race at Adizero, clocking 3:52.45 to win ahead of Americans Hobbs Kessler (3:54.34) and Nico Young (3:54.50).
Although Wanyonyi missed Hicham El Guerrouj’s long-standing world record of 3:43.13, he was delighted with his effort. “I thank God for this result. I didn’t expect it, and I had a lot of fun out there,” Wanyonyi said.
Nelly Chepchirchir clocked 4:23.98 in the women's event to claim victory ahead of Ethiopia's Hawi Abera (4:25.62) and USA's Addison Wiley (4:30.90).
