Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich obliterated the women’s world 10km record by running 28:46 at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja, a World Athletics Label road race, on Sunday.
The 22-year-old becomes the first woman to break 29 minutes for the distance, improving by 28 seconds the previous road mixed race world record set by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in Castellon two years ago.
World cross country bronze medallist Ngetich was paced in the Spanish coastal city by her compatriot Japheth Kipkemboi Kosgei and the first world record fell at half way as Ngetich went through the 5km checkpoint in 14:13.
That is six seconds faster than the women’s world record achieved in a mixed race, set by Ethiopia’s Ejigayehu Taye in Barcelona in 2021, and matches the time Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet set in a woman-only race in Barcelona a fortnight ago.
Ngetich’s 10km time is also faster than the women’s world record for the distance on the track, with Letesenbet Gidey‘s world 10,000m record standing at 29:01.03.
Emmaculate Anyango also dipped under 29 minutes in Valencia, clocking 28:57 to finish runner-up to her compatriot Ngetich.
“I am so happy. I didn’t expect this world record,” said Ngetich. “I was coming to improve my time, at least somewhere around 29:14, but I am happy that I ran a world record of 28 minutes. I didn’t expect this.”
She will now focus on the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 in March and then the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where athletics will be the No.1 sport in August.
The men’s race was won by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in 26:48.
