Romania 22-year-old runner Agnes Ngetich broke the world record in the all-female 10km race with a time of 29 minutes 24 seconds at the World Athletics Elite Label.
Ngetich dominated the race in Brasov on September 10. She quickly surged ahead and completed the first 5km in 14 minutes 25 seconds – four seconds faster than the women’s world record for the distance. At the time, Ngetich had a 10-second lead over compatriot Catherine Reline.
Ngetich maintained her lead, covering 6.5km in 18:54 and 8.5km in 24:56 before finishing in a record time of 29:23. This was the best time in the women's race, breaking the 30:1 mark set by Agnes Tirop in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 2021.
Ngetich celebrates after winning the 10km World Athletics Elite Label 2023 race on September 10.
Ngetich also posted the third-best 10km time in history, behind only 29 minutes 14 seconds by Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw in a mixed race in Castellon in 2022, and 29 minutes 19 seconds also by Yehualaw in Valencia earlier this year.
Ngetich, born in 2001, is a promising long-distance runner for Kenya, having won the 5,000m at the Kenya U20 African Qualifiers. She finished fifth at the Kenya Cross Country Championships held at Iten Grounds in Elgeyo Marakwet County in November 2021, and second to Sheila Chepkirui at the Brasov 10km Road Running Festival in Brașov, Romania in September 2022.
On February 18, 2023, the 22-year-old runner won a bronze medal in the individual event and a gold medal in the team event at the World Cross Country Championships held in Bathurst, Australia.
"This world record is a surprise achievement for me," Ngetich said after crossing the finish line. "I didn't expect to achieve the world record. I just wanted to improve my personal best, achieve a time under 30 minutes to break the race record, but to achieve the world record was a real surprise."
Ngetich celebrated his world record in the traditional way, writing his performance data and the symbol WR (World Record) on his racing shoes. Photo: World Athletics
Catherine Reline came second in 30 minutes 14 seconds, while Uganda's Joy Cheptoyek finished third in 30 minutes 34 seconds.
In the men's event, Weldon Langat completed a double for Kenya by finishing first in 27 minutes and 5 seconds, followed by Amos Kurgat in 27 minutes and 12 seconds, and Edward Zakayo Pingua - the 2018 World U20 5,000m champion - in 27 minutes and 14 seconds.
Hong Duy
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