Ngetich outpaces Taye to settle score in Philadelphia

Women’s-only 10km world record holder Agnes Ngetich scaled down to the 3000m at the third event of the inaugural Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia, clocking 8:43.61 on Saturday, 31 May, to win it at the tape, denying Ejgayehu Taye. 

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Ngetich headed to Philadelphia keen to extend her brilliant season after finishing as the overall winner in the women’s long distance in Miami, but with a score to settle with Ethiopia's Taye, the woman who had defeated her back-to-back in Kingston. 

Despite running 3000 metres in a personal best 8:28.75, she finished just behind Taye.

The script repeated itself in the 5000m race that weekend, as she again finished runner-up to Taye, running 14:59.80. 

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However, in Philadelphia, where the compression of the schedule to two days instead of three saw the long-distance Slam held with one race instead of two, with halved prize money, Ngetich produced a sensational 61-second last lap to take the 3000m win on the line. Taye was second in 8:43.70. 

"The competition was always going to be tough given that we only had one race here. It was fast, and everyone was strong. The last three laps were a real challenge, but when I stayed on track and was side by side at the home straight, I was thinking, I can't possibly give up now. I fought until the end for the win," Ngetich offered after the race. 

From the gun, she took the lead right away, ahead of Josette Andrews of the U.S, with Kingston distance Slam winner Taye in tow. 

The pace continued slow, and no one could move Ngetich out. With 600 m to go, Andrews came up and at the bell, Ngetich and Andrews were together, with Taye third.

On the back straight, Andrews tried to take the lead, but Ngetich held her place. 

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Taye caught up at the final bend and onto the straight, where they were hip to hip, but Ngetich would not be denied. 

 Andrews got third in 8:44.70, and American Weini Kelati fourth in 8:45.31. 

Meanwhile, Mary Moraa finished seventh in the 1500m, clocking 4:25.79 to earn two points in a race won by Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji in 3:58.04 to equal the world lead for 2025. 

Jessica Hull was second in 3:58.36 for a seasonal best, as American star Nikki Hiltz led the chase pack in third in 4:00.54, with Georgia Hunter-Bell fourth in 4:00.85.

Additional reporting by sports examiner