Kenya secured a memorable one-two finish at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen after Agnes Ngetich won the women’s half marathon title and broke the women’s-only world record.
Ngetich completed the 21.1-kilometre race in 1:05:15, improving on the previous record of 1:05:16 set by compatriot Peres Jepchirchir in 2020. The 25-year-old athlete led from the start, opening a considerable gap before maintaining her pace to secure the gold medal.
Her victory also saw fellow Kenyan Veronica Loleo finish second in 1:06:05, giving Kenya a strong result in the women’s event. Ngetich’s achievement was particularly important because the women’s-only category excludes races that use male pacemakers. While faster times have been recorded in mixed races, her performance established a new benchmark in the women-only category.
The victory fulfilled an ambition Ngetich had spoken about before the championships. She had expressed her desire to win the title in Copenhagen, describing it as a dream despite the strong field of competitors.
The win adds to a successful year for the athlete, who had already claimed the senior women’s title at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee. Her latest world title further adds to her achievements in 2026.
Kenya also secured a silver medal in the men’s half marathon through Nicholas Kipkorir, who finished in 58:11. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren won the race in 58:06, while Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei took bronze after recording 58:26.
Other Kenyan athletes contributed to the country’s medal haul during the championships. Caroline Gitonga won silver in the women’s 5km with a time of 14:48, while Mirriam Cherop earned bronze in the women’s road mile after clocking 4:25.71.
The performances reflected Kenya’s participation across the road mile, 5km and half marathon events. The country sent 16 athletes to compete in the championships, with several returning home with medals.
Ngetich’s record comes at a significant time for Kenyan athletics, as Nairobi prepares to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. World Athletics awarded the event to the Kenyan capital on September 15, 2026, making it the first edition of the global championships to be staged in Africa.
With Kenya preparing for the historic event, Ngetich’s performance in Copenhagen provides another major achievement for the country’s athletics community and adds momentum ahead of the 2029 championships.
