Ngetich Takes Half Marathon Gold in Women-Only World Record 1:05:15

Agnes Ngetich won the world half marathon title in Copenhagen with a women-only world record of 1:05:15 on Sunday, 20 September 2026. The Kenyan took one second off the previous mark set by compatriot Peres Jepchirchir in 2020.

One second, six years, one gold

Ngetich went straight to the front in Denmark, covering the first kilometre in around three minutes. She passed 5km in 15:12, already 10 seconds clear, and stretched the gap to 26 seconds by 10km in 30:39.

At 15km her lead had grown to 53 seconds, with Rwanda's Florence Niyonkuru and a chase pack including Kenya's Daisilah Jerono and USA's Emma Grace Hurley unable to respond. Ngetich hit 20km in 1:01:56 and raised her arms at the line in 1:05:15.

A third world record in a golden year

Team-mate Veronica Loleo took silver in 1:06:05, while Niyonkuru claimed bronze in a national record of 1:06:08. The victory added to the world cross-country title Ngetich won in Tallahassee in January and followed a world-leading 28:58 10km in Lille and an 8:08.95 3000m in Monaco.

The Copenhagen run was her third career world record, alongside her world 10km marks of 28:46 set in a mixed race and 29:27 in a women-only race. She also led Kenya to the team title in a combined 3:17:33.

"After one kilometre, I was like, let me try to push the pace, because I saw an opportunity to get the world record," she told reporters afterwards. "Crossing the finish line with a world record by just one second was unbelievable."

Ngetich now turns her attention to 2027, where the 25-year-old has said she aims to return to the track for the one global gold still missing from her collection.