Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich delivered a stellar performance at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, setting a new women-only half marathon world record.
World Record Achievement
Agnes Ngetich won the women’s half marathon in the Danish capital, finishing in 1:05:15. This time beat the previous women-only world record, previously held by Peres Jepchirchir since 2020, by just one second. Ngetich's dominant run placed her 50 seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Veronica Loleo, who took silver.
Dominant Performance and Team Triumph
From the very start, Ngetich led the field, maintaining her pace through to a strong finish. Her performance also helped Kenya secure the team half marathon victory at the event. Ngetich credited her coach for believing she could not only win gold but also break the record.
Context and Further Achievements
While the women-only record now belongs to Ngetich, the overall women’s half marathon world record—set in a mixed-gender race—is held by Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey at 1:02:52. Ngetich, 25, adds this achievement to an already impressive 2026 season, having also won the World Cross Country Championships earlier in the year.
