The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Kenyan road-running star Agnes Ng’etich strengthened her reputation as one of the world’s leading distance runners on Sunday morning after setting a new women-only world record in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ng’etich crossed the finish line in an impressive 1:05:15, improving the previous women-only world record by 61 seconds. The earlier mark of 1:06:16 had been set by fellow Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships.
The victory also produced a Kenyan 1-2 finish, with Veronica Loleo taking silver after clocking 1:06:50.
Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru completed the podium in 1:06:08, while Kenya’s Daisilah Jerono narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in 1:06:13.
The Copenhagen victory marked Ng’etich’s second global title of the season and added another major achievement to her impressive 2026 campaign.
She began the year on a high note by securing her first senior world title at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 10.
Ng’etich dominated the senior women’s 10km race, winning in 31:28 ahead of Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek, who finished in 32:10, and Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew, who clocked 32:13.
Her strong form continued in Kenya at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour on February 14. She won the women’s 10km in 32:28, finishing ahead of Mercy Chepkemoi (33:42) and Catherine Amanang’ole (33:51).
Ng’etich experienced a rare disappointment at the New York Half Marathon on March 15, where she finished 13th in 1:10:25. Hellen Obiri won the race in 1:06:33.
She quickly bounced back, securing consecutive 10km road victories in Lille on April 4, where she ran 28:58, and New York on June 6, where she clocked 30:07.
Ng’etich later made a successful transition to track competition at the Monaco Diamond League on July 10, winning the 3,000m in 8:08.95.
She finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Aleshign Baweke (8:23.81) and Senayet Getachew (8:24.02), while fellow Kenyan star Faith Kipyegon placed fourth in 8:24.21.
The Copenhagen record further underlines Ng’etich’s remarkable consistency across cross country, road and track events during a standout 2026 season.
