No pacemakers. No rivals. No teammates to share the burden with. And for 18 grueling kilometers on the wet Danish tarmac of Copenhagen, Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich was entirely alone with a historic decision she had spent a lifetime preparing to make.
When she crossed the finish line at Christiansborg Castle in 1:05:15, Ngetich hadn’t just captured the World Athletics Road Running Championships half marathon title—she had shattered the women’s-only world record, capping off a breathtaking, multi-terrain season of global dominance.
Before Sunday’s race, Ngetich had a simple plan: start carefully, gauge the pace, and attack between three and five kilometres in. When the moment came, she did not hesitate. She surged forward and never looked back. From that point on, the race became less about beating her rivals and more about finding out just how fast she could run.
“I love running from the front. My coach told me that depending on how I felt, I could run between three and five kilometres and just go.”
“When I felt strong, I knew the time was right, so I went for it,” she told Nation Sport.
What she did not know at the time was just how historic her decision would become. For the next 18 kilometres, Ngetich ran into the unknown, stretching her lead with every kilometre as the chasing pack fell further behind.
She passed 5km in 15:12, already 12 seconds ahead. At 10km, she was through in 30:39 with a 32-second lead. By the time she reached 15km in 46:17, the race for gold was effectively over.
But had she already set her sights on the world record? Ngetich says her primary objective was to win the race. The thought of setting a new record only came to her as the race unfolded.
“I just wanted to run and win the race. That’s all that was on my mind. But as the race progressed, I felt something special could come of it,” said Ngetich. This mindset was indicative of the relationship she had established with her coach, Julian Di Maria, in Iten. He prepares her races and provides her with a framework, trusting her to make good decisions as the race progresses.
“That is how we work. He prepares me completely and then, on the day, I decide when the time is right. On Sunday, it felt right, so I made a move and went for the prize,” she said.
Agnes Jebet Ngetich wins the senior women's race in 31:28 during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 at Apalachee Regional Park on January 10, 2026.
Photo credit: Kirby Lee | Reuters
The prize turned out to be more than just another global title. When Ngetich reached the finish line, she had not only won the women’s World Half Marathon title, but also recorded the fastest women-only half marathon time ever. This win delivered the perfect ending to a season that had already seen her reach the top of the world in cross country, on the road and on the track.
“I was happy when I crossed the finish line,” she said. “To be the fastest ever in a women-only race is something I’m proud of. It gives me a reason to continue working hard.”
Ngetich opened her season by winning the World Cross Country title in Tallahassee, Florida, finally claiming the gold she had been chasing since her global cross country debut in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, when she won bronze. A year later in Belgrade, she finished fifth.
In April, Ngetich ran 28:58 at the Urban Trail de Lille in France -- the third fastest women’s 10km time ever recorded. The runner followed this with victory at the New York Mini 10K in 30:07 -- a course and event record -- beating Ethiopian runner Tsigie Gebreselama and the defending champion, Hellen Obiri, also of Kenya.
On July 10, she won the 3,000m race at the Monaco Diamond League meeting in a record time of 8:08.95, moving her to third on the all-time world list.
However, it was on the roads of Copenhagen that she produced the performance that may define her season.
Her compatriot Veronica Loleo finished second in 1:06:05, giving Kenya a one-two finish and helping the country to win the women’s team title in 3:17:33, ahead of the US and Ethiopia.
The women’s-only record is particularly significant because there are no male pacemakers or mixed-gender drafting advantages. Every second has to be earned against the road, the weather, and the runner’s own limits.
For Ngetich, achieving a time of 1:05:15 put her ahead of the previous women’s-only record of 1:05:16, set by her mentor, Peres Jepchirchir.
“It has been a very special season. To open with the World Cross Country title and now finish with a world record — I could not have dreamed it better,” she said.
However, there is another record still occupying her thoughts. Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey’s world record of 1:02:52 in the mixed race remains more than two minutes away, but Ngetich believes she can eventually challenge it.
She has already attempted it twice in Valencia, but difficult weather conditions stopped her.
Kenya's Agnes Jebet Ngetich celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the senior women's race during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee on January 10, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
“As for the outright record, I know I can do better than the current mark. But it’s not just about being in the right shape. The conditions have to be right too, and I have the belief. If the chance comes again, I will be ready to go after it with everything I have,” said Ngetich, who is currently the second-fastest half marathoner.
She confirmed that she will compete in the Tokyo Half Marathon at the end of October, where the fast, flat course could provide an opportunity to see just how far her performance in Copenhagen can take her.
With the 2027 World Championships in Beijing on the horizon, she intends to continue competing in track events.
“I love both road races and track events, and I don’t think I’m finished with the track yet. The road has been good to me, and I enjoy the freedom it offers, but I still have things I want to achieve on the track,” she said.
“With major championships approaching, we will consider all options and decide where I can best represent my country. For now, I am enjoying the roads, but I won’t rule anything out.”
