Kenya's Agnes Jebet breaks 10km record

Agnes Jebet Ngetich

Agnes Jebet Ngetich is the new world 10km record holder after she stormed to victory at the Brasov Running Festival in Romania on Sunday.

Photo credit: Pool

What you need to know:

  • Kapsait-based Catherine Reline came in second after clocking 30:14, while Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek was in third place after timing 30:34.
  • Kenyans also dominated the men's race with Weldon Langat winning in 27:05 ahead of Amos Kurgat (27:12) and Edward Zakayo (27:14).

The World Cross Country bronze medalist Agnes Jebet Ngetich is the new women's-only world 10km record holder after she stormed to victory at the Brasov Running Festival in Romania on Sunday.

Jebet, who trains in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, clocked 29:24 beating the previous record of the late Agnes Tirop of 30:01 recorded at the Roads to Records in Germany in 2021.

Kapsait-based Catherine Reline came in second after clocking 30:14, while Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek was in third place after timing 30:34.

Kenyans also dominated the men's race with Weldon Langat winning in 27:05 ahead of Amos Kurgat (27:12) and Edward Zakayo (27:14).

Elsewhere, Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir won the Great North Run Half Marathon in Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Jepchichir timed 1:06:45 ahead of her compatriot Sharon Lokedi, who clocked 1:07:43, while Great Britain’s Charlotte Purdue settled for third in 1:09:36.

Last year, Jepchirchir finished second behind her compatriot Hellen Obiri with Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana coming third.

Jepchirchir will compete in the World Half Marathon Championships in Latvia before she heads to New York Marathon where she is set to clash with Lokedi who is the defending champion, Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, world record holder Brigid Kosgei among others.

“I’m glad to have won the race after emerging second last year. Basically I was using the race as part of my preparations ahead of the assignments where I will be representing Kenya and I just want to run well,” said Jepchirchir.

In the men’s category, Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola bagged victory timing 59:58 ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi who clocked 1:01:20 with another Ethiopian Muktar Edris was third in 1:01:54.