Agnes Ng’etich Breaks World Record as Kenya Claims Half Marathon Gold and Silver

Agnes Ng’etich won the women’s half marathon title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on Sunday, setting a women-only world record of 1:05:15.

The Kenyan took control early, building a 10-second lead within the first 5km before extending her advantage throughout the race. By 15km, she was almost a minute ahead of the field. She finished 50 seconds clear of compatriot Veronica Loleo, who took silver in 1:06:05.

Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru won bronze in 1:06:08, setting a national record. Kenya’s Daisilah Jerono finished fourth. Ng’etich’s time improved Peres Jepchirchir’s previous women-only world record by one second. Jepchirchir set the previous mark in Gdynia in 2020. Ng’etich’s record is subject to ratification by World Athletics.

The victory gave Ng’etich her second global title of the year and added another major achievement to an exceptional season. She began the year by winning the senior women’s title at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee.

She later ran a world-leading 28:58 over 10km in Lille before moving to the track. At the Monaco Diamond League, she won the 3,000m in 8:08.95, another world-leading performance.

Her Copenhagen victory means she has won global titles in cross country and road running while also producing a world-leading performance on the track during the same season. Ng’etich entered the race as the world 10km record holder and Kenya’s national half marathon record holder. She had said before the race that winning in Copenhagen would be her dream.

The result also gave Kenya a one-two finish in the women’s half marathon, while Niyonkuru’s bronze and national record marked a significant result for Rwanda.

Ng’etich’s performance adds to her growing record of success across different distances and disciplines and establishes her as one of the leading figures of the 2026 athletics season.