Agnes Ng'etich (R) and Janeth Chepng'etich during the national trials / TEDDY MULEI World 10km road race record holder Agnes Ng’etich hopes to defend the Valencia Half Marathon title on October 26.
Ng’etich won the title on her debut over the distance in October last year, clocking 1:03:04. It will be her second career half-marathon race.
In addition to clinching the title, Ng’etich’s blistering run was a new national record and made her the second-fastest women’s half-marathon runner of all time.
Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey holds the world record of 1:02:52 set on the same course in 2021.
During last year’s race, Ng’etich led Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay (1:03:21) and compatriot Lilian Kasait (1:03:32) to the podium.
Race organisers have promised another record-chasing edition.
“The organisation intends to maintain a very high level of competition by fighting for the best world times of the current year,” read a statement from the organisers.
Despite Ng’etich’s limited experience over 21km, the 24-year-old boasts world-beating credentials on the road.
In January 2024, she obliterated the women’s 10K world record with a time of 28:46, also in Valencia.
She led Immaculate Anyango (28:57) and Kasait (29:32) to the podium.
Ng’etich’s resume is stacked with high-profile 10K victories, including triumphs in Lille 2023 (29:56) and back-to-back titles at the Adidas Adizero Road to Records races in 2024 (30:03) and 2025 (29:27).
She was third at the 2023 edition of the Adizero (30:27) and earned runner-up finishes in Brasov 2022 (30:30) and Laredo 2021 (31:20).
Ng'etich has impressed over 5km, winning the 2024 Kumamoto Road Race in 14:48 and finishing second at the 2023 Boston 5K (15:02).
Her return to Valencia will come just weeks after the World Championships in Tokyo in September, where she will chase a 5,000m and 10,000m double.
She will face a familiar rival in Tesfay, who has reached the podium in every road race she’s contested this year.
Tesfay was third at the Valencia 10K (29:42), won the Berlin Half Marathon (1:03:35) and placed second at the Adizero Road to Records 10K in 14:50.
Joining Ng’etich in the Kenyan charge are Gladys Chepkurui, Jesca Chelangat, Veronica Loleo and Gladys Kwamboka.
Emerging talent Alex Matata will lead a formidable Kenyan line-up in the men’s division, where they face defending champion Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia.
Kejelcha won last year’s race in 57:30 ahead of Kenyans Daniel Mateiko (58:17) and Isaia Lasoi (58:21).
Joining Matata in the men’s assault will be Patrick Mosin, Gideon Kiprotich, Samwel Mailu and Hillary Kipkoech.
