Kenyan runner Ngetich breaks women-only 10 km world record

Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Ngetich smashed the 10km world record in Herzogenaurach on Saturday, becoming the first woman to run the distance in under 30 minutes in a women-only race.

Ngetich, 24, clocked a time of 29 minutes and 27 seconds, breaking late Agnes Jebet Tirop's record of 30:01 set in the same German town in 2021.

Ngetich had clocked a time of 29:24 two years back in the women-only 10km race but the record was not ratified because the course was found to be short by 25 metres.

"I'm so excited, I didn't expect this ," Ngetich said.

‘Proud of myself’

"Last year I missed it by two seconds, so I wanted to come here today and try for it again. I'm so proud of myself. After missing out on the Olympics last year, I want to make up for it this year at the World Championships."

Last year, Ngetich broke the 10km world record in Valencia, becoming the first woman to run the distance in under 29 minutes in a mixed-race event.

She recorded a time of 28:46, breaking Yalemzerf Yehualaw's road mixed race world record.