Saturday, April 26, 2025, was a good day in the office for Kenyan athlete Agnes Ngetich as she became the first athlete to break 30 minutes in a women-only 10km.

Ngetich permanently inscribed her name in the history books after she smashed through the barrier with 29:27 at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach.

Ngetich started the race comfortably by commanding an early lead. After just five minutes, the 24-year-old, who already held the world record for 10km in a mixed race (28:46) had already stretched out the field.

Following her swift opening pace for the first two kilometres, Ngetich settled into a 2:57/km rhythm for the next three kilometres, reaching halfway in 14:37 and putting her well on course to break the world record of 30:01 held by the late Agnes Jebet Tirop.

The previous record of 30:01 was set in the same German town by the late Agnes Tirop in 2021.

Ngetich’s pace dropped slightly in the second half, but she still managed to cover each remaining kilometre inside 3:00. Now well ahead of her nearest opponents, Ngetich charged through the finish line in 29:27, having covered the second half in 14:50.

In 2024, Ngetich broke the 10km world record in Valencia, becoming the first woman to run the distance in under 29 minutes in a mixed-race event.

She recorded a time of 28:46, breaking Yalemzerf Yehualaw’s world record for a mixed road race of 29:14 set in 2022.

Her reaction

Speaking after the race, Ngetich noted that she was determined to make history after missing the mark by two seconds in 2024.

She further claimed that she was up to improving her results after missing out on the Kenyan squad that represented the country in the Olympics.

“I’m so excited, I didn’t expect this,” she said. “Last year I missed it by two seconds, so I wanted to come here today and try for it again. I’m so proud of myself. After missing out on the Olympics last year, I want to make up for it this year at the World Championships.”

Historic 👏

🇰🇪’s Agnes Ngetich smashes the women-only 10km world record in Herzogenaurach 🔥

She clocks 29:27* to become the first woman to ever break 30 minutes in a women-only race 💪

*subject to the usual ratification procedures pic.twitter.com/9GxwSZtypM

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) April 26, 2025

Ngetich made headlines when she won two medals at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, securing bronze in the senior women’s race and team gold, held in Bathurst, Australia.

Born on January 23, 2001, in Kinamget Tabare village, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Keiyo South, Ngetich discovered her running talent while participating in various school activities during her primary school years.

In October 2024, Ngetich was nominated for the Female Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year by World Athletics.