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Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich has broken the women-only 10-kilometre world record in Brasov, Romania, after clocking 29:24.

In a statement, World Athletics confirmed the record, saying it is subject to the usual ratification procedures.

‘In an impressive solo running display, the 22-year-old showed her intent from the start and covered the first 5km in 14:25 – four seconds faster than the women-only world record for that distance. She had a lead of 10 seconds ahead of her compatriot Catherine Reline at that point,” World Athletics stated.

“Racing on the loop course, Ngetich went on to pass 6.5km in 18:54 and 8.5km in 24:56 before crossing the finish line in 29:24 to record the fastest ever 10km in a women-only race, improving on the 30:01 set by the late Agnes Tirop in Herzogenaurach in 2021.”

As well as being the fastest women-only 10km, Ngetich’s time is the third-quickest in history, behind only the 29:14 run by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in a mixed race in Castellon last year and the 29:19 Yehualaw clocked in Valencia earlier this year.

The race, which was dominated by Kenyans, saw Catherine Reline come second followed closely by Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek who came third.

Other Kenyans who were in the race include Diana Cherotich (fourth), Viola Chepngeno (fifth), Faith Chepkoech (sixth) and Christine Njoki (eighth).

Romania’s Stella Rutto was seventh in the race.