Agnes Ngetich Sets Women's 10K World Record
Agnes Ngetich set a new world record for the women's-only 10K at the 2025 Adidas Road To Records event. The performance represents a significant milestone for women's distance running and continues the recent cascade of record-breaking performances attributed to advances in shoe technology, course design, and athlete preparation.
- Agnes Ngetich's winning time of 29:27 made her the first woman to ever break the 30-minute barrier in a women-only 10K road race. - She shattered the previous world record of 30:01, which was set by the late Agnes Jebet Tirop in 2021 at the very same event in Herzogenaurach, Germany. - This was a moment of redemption for Ngetich, who had narrowly missed breaking the record by just two seconds at the 2024 edition of the same race. - Ngetich also holds the 10K world record for a mixed-gender race (28:46), making her the undisputed fastest woman ever over the distance on the roads. - Her blistering first half of the race was run in 14:37, putting her well ahead of the previous world record pace from the outset. - In September 2023, Ngetich had run a faster time of 29:24 in Romania, but the record was nullified after the race course was found to be 25 meters short. - The Adidas Road to Records event is specifically designed for record attempts, featuring a course at the company's headquarters that was altered for 2025 to be even faster by modifying sharp corners. - Following the race, Ngetich stated her focus is now on the upcoming World Championships to make up for the disappointment of missing the previous year's Olympic Games.
