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Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich, after breaking the Women’s World 10km record with a remarkable 28:46 at the 10k Valencia Ibercaja, is now setting her sights on the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade in March.

The 22-year-old plans to participate in the Kenyan trials for Belgrade, aiming to surpass her bronze medal performance from the previous year.

Agnes Ngetich determination

In an interview with World Athletics, Ngetich expressed her determination to improve on her 2023 performance in the upcoming championship.

“I’ll be doing the Kenyan trials for Belgrade, where I would like to improve on my bronze medal from last year,” Ngetich told World Athletics.

Following the trials, she is gearing up for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where athletics will take centre stage in August.

During the Valencia 10K, Ngetich not only secured her victory but also became the first woman to break the 29-minute barrier for the distance.

She surpassed the previous road mixed-race world record by 28 seconds, set by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in Castellon two years ago.

Her compatriot Emmaculate Anyango also achieved an impressive time of 28:57, finishing as the runner-up.

Ngetich was paced by Japheth Kipkemboi Kosgei in Valencia, and the first world record fell at the halfway point with Ngetich completing the 5km checkpoint in 14:13.

This time matched the record set by Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet in a woman-only race in Barcelona. Ngetich’s 10km time also surpassed the women’s world record for the distance on the track.

The race saw a strong field, with 11 women breaking the 15:00 barrier at 5km. Despite facing a headwind in the second half of the race, Ngetich maintained her comfortable lead, reaching the eighth kilometre in 23:10.

She made history at the finish line, joined 11 seconds later by Anyango, who also went under the 29-minute mark.

Agnes Ngetich journey

Ngetich’s journey to the world record included setbacks, such as the course being found short in Brasov last September, where she initially appeared to break the women-only 10km world record.

Undeterred, she triumphed in Lille in November with a lifetime best of 29:26, making the 10K Valencia Ibercaja the focal point of her outstanding world record achievement.