Sub-Saharan Africa
Sputnik brings you all the most recent information, major events, heroes and views, including breaking news, images, videos, analyses, and features.

Kenyan Athlete Ngetich Sets New Women-Only World Record

© AP Photo / Gregory BullA fan of Kenya holds up a national flag during the final in the women's 5000-meter run at the World Athletics Championships on July 23, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.
A fan of Kenya holds up a national flag during the final in the women's 5000-meter run at the World Athletics Championships on July 23, 2022, in Eugene, Ore.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 10.09.2023
Subscribe
Agnes Ngetich, 22, is a Kenyan long distance runner. According to the World Athletics Organization, she is the thrid-quickest woman on 10km distance in history.
On Sunday, Agnes Ngetich from Kenya broke the women-only world 10km record with a time clocking of 29:24 at the World Athletics Elite Label road race in Romania.

"I didn't expect to get the world record. I just wanted a PB [personal best], low 30 minutes to break the course record, but a world record is really a surprise," said Ngetich.

The 22-year-old runner finished the first 5km in 14:25, which was four seconds ahead of the previous world record for the same distance.

"As well as being the fastest women-only 10km, Ngetich's time is the third-quickest by a woman 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," stated the World Athletics Organization.

Ethiopia's long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie crosses the finish line to win the Vienna city half marathon, in downtown Vienna, Austria, on Sunday, April 15, 2012.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 08.08.2023
Features
Top 10 African Athletes Holding Guinness World Records
In February, Ngetich claimed bronze at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Australia. Later in August, she ended on sixth place in the 10,000m final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest.

"I started the year with the World Cross, which was perfect, so I wanted to close the season with a good result," explained Ngetich.

At the World Athletics Elite Label, Ngetich's fellow competitor Catherine Reline finished second in 30:14, while Uganda's Joy Cheptoyek opted for a third-place finish in 30:34.
In the men's race, Kenya also won first place with Weldon Langat. He managed to clock 27:05 on 10km. These two results created a double for Kenya in the championship.
Newsfeed
0