Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich poses for a photo after after winning the Chicago Marathon in a new world record time of 2:09:56 on October 13, 2024.
Kenyan athletes dominated the athletics scene in 2024, delivering a breathtaking series of record-breaking performances across both track and road events.
From Faith Kipyegon’s remarkable 1,500m run to Ruth Chepng’etich’s historic sub-2:10 marathon, Kenyan athletes rewrote history and cemented the nation’s reputation as an athletics powerhouse.
This year saw Kenya not just maintain its dominance but also push the boundaries of human performance. The country’s stars set multiple world records, breaking barriers once thought impossible.
While the season was tinged with sadness following the tragic death of men’s marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum in February, the athletes honoured his memory with stunning achievements that brought glory to the nation.
Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ng’etich, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Peres Jepchirchir, and Ruth Chepng’etich headlined Kenya’s remarkable year, each leaving an indelible mark on the sport.
Agnes Jebet Ng’etich set the tone for an extraordinary year when she stormed to victory at the Valencia 10km road race on January 14. She became the first woman to run a sub-29-minute 10km, clocking an astonishing 28:46.
The performance also equalled the women’s 5km-only world record of 14:13 in the mixed category, set by Beatrice Chebet just weeks earlier in Barcelona.
Ng’etich’s historic feat signalled the immense potential of Kenyan athletes, inspiring many as the season unfolded.
Beatrice Chebet, one of Kenya’s brightest stars, delivered a historic performance on May 25 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. She became the first woman to run a sub-29-minute 10,000m race, clocking 28:54.14 and smashing the world record.
Chebet’s accomplishment was unexpected, as she revealed after the race: “I didn’t have any intention to run the world record and was just accompanying [Ethiopia’s] Gudaf Tsegay, who was seeking it. When I saw her not moving anymore, I decided to surge forward. I’m happy I broke the record.”
Chebet went on to clinch gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the Paris Olympics, securing her place as one of the most decorated athletes of the year.
Despite starting her season late due to injury, Faith Kipyegon once again demonstrated her class by breaking her own 1,500m world record at the Paris Diamond League. She clocked 3:49.04, bettering her previous mark of 3:49.11 set at the Florence Diamond League in 2023.
Reflecting on her season, Kipyegon said, “I missed some of the races when the season started because of an injury, but I’m glad my first race at the national trials secured my spot for the Olympics. Breaking another record was really great for me, and I must admit the year was amazing.”
Kipyegon went on to win her third consecutive Olympic 1,500m title in Paris, solidifying her position as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time.
Ruth Chepng’etich made history at the Chicago Marathon in October by becoming the first woman to run a marathon under 2:10, clocking an awe-inspiring 2:09:56. She maintained a blistering pace throughout the race, shattering the world record and setting a new benchmark for women’s marathon running.
Chepng’etich revealed her meticulous planning for the record-breaking feat: “I told my pacemakers the evening before that we must cross the halfway mark at 65:00 and finish the second half in 64:00. No one else knew my plan, but I was confident the record would fall, though I didn’t expect 2:09.”
This historic performance came after years of near-misses for Chepng’etich, including a 2018 personal best of 2:18:35.
Peres Jepchirchir added to Kenya’s list of historic achievements in 2024 by setting a women’s-only marathon world record at the London Marathon in April. She clocked 2:16:16, surpassing the previous record of 2:17:01 held by Mary Keitany.
Reflecting on her season, Jepchirchir said, “The year has been great. Seeing the women’s record lowered during the race was exciting, and I believe it can be reduced even further as women are running faster now.”
Jepchirchir’s performance stood out in a season of intense competition, with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa having set the overall women’s marathon record of 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon in 2023.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the reigning Olympic 800m champion, made headlines in road racing when he set a 1-mile world record of 3:54.6 at the Adizero Roads to Records event in Germany on April 27.
Although Briton Elliot Giles later broke the record with a time of 3:51.3 in September, Wanyonyi’s performance remained a highlight of the year.
Wanyonyi’s versatility and success across distances cemented his reputation as one of the rising stars in athletics.
As the year concludes, Kenya’s athletes continue to inspire, proving that determination and resilience can overcome even the greatest challenges.
Their record-breaking performances serve as a testament to the nation’s rich athletic heritage and its bright future in global athletics.
