Agnes Ng’etich soothes Tokyo Championships loss with world-leading run in Valencia

Agnes Ng’etich delivered a commanding response to her disappointing outing at the Tokyo World Championships by storming to a world-leading time at the Medio Maratón de Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich on Sunday, 26 October.

Ng’etich, who had finished 15th in the women’s 5000m final and failed to impress in the 10,000m at the global showpiece, clocked 1:03:08 to retain her title in Valencia.

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Her performance is the third-fastest half-marathon time in history.

Though she fell just 16 seconds short of Letesenbet Gidey’s world record (1:02:52 set in 2021), Ng’etich’s performance reaffirmed her position among the sport’s elite and extended her perfect record in Valencia, where she has now won all three of her appearances, one over 10km and two over the half-marathon.

“I know I have the world record in my legs, and my splits were inside that pace until 15km. Even without breaking it, I am satisfied as I have competed in Valencia three times and won all of them,” Ng’etich said after the race.

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Just as she did last year when she ran 1:03:04 on her debut over the distance, Ng’etich started with purpose.

Paced by Moses Ntaloishi, the world 10k record-holder crossed the 5km mark in 14:38, 11 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay, who came into the race as the world leader with 1:03:35 from Berlin in April.

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Ng’etich hit 10km in 29:28, still ahead of world record pace, but began to slow after the 15km mark (44:36).

Despite fading slightly in the final stretch, she maintained her lead and cruised to victory in 1:03:08.

Tesfay followed in 1:05:11, while her countrymate Veronica Loleo clocked a personal best 1:05:46 to complete the podium.

In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha defended his title with a time of 58:02, narrowly missing out on his own world record of 57:30 set in Valencia last year.

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Paced by Kenya’s Amos Kipkorir, the world 10,000m silver medalist set off at a blistering rhythm, going through 5km in 13:35 and 10km in 27:13.

However, humid conditions and strong winds slowed his charge in the final stages.

“I felt superb until the 10km point, but then began to suffer stomach pain and could not maintain my rhythm. It was not the ideal day to break the world record anyway, as the wind was strong and it hampered me,” Kejelcha said.

Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera claimed second place in a lifetime best 58:39, narrowly edging Kenya’s Brian Kibor, who was awarded the same time.

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Sweden’s Andreas Almgren broke the European record with 58:41, becoming the first European to dip under 59 minutes, while South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt finished fifth in 59:13 on his debut.

Leading Results

Women

1. Agnes Ng’etich (KEN) – 1:03:08
2. Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) – 1:05:11
3. Veronica Loleo (KEN) – 1:05:46
4. Gladys Chepkurui (KEN) – 1:06:58
5. Mulat Takele (ETH) – 1:07:08

Men

1. Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) – 58:02
2. Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) – 58:39
3. Brian Kibor (KEN) – 58:39
4. Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 58:41 (European Record)
5. Adriaan Wildschutt (RSA) – 59:13