Agnes Ngetich Lowers Women-Only Half-Marathon World Record by One Second in Copenhagen

Ngetich finished 50 seconds ahead of compatriot Veronica Loleo, who placed second.

Published On 20 Sep 202620 Sep 2026

Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich shaved one second off the women-only half-marathon world record on Sunday, winning the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 15 seconds.

The 25-year-old, who also holds the women-only 10km world record, surged to the front from the start on a sunny morning in the Danish capital and never relinquished the lead, finishing 50 seconds ahead of compatriot Veronica Loleo.

The previous women-only mark was set by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir when she won the World Half Marathon title in Poland in 2020.

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey owns the overall women’s half-marathon world record of 1:02:52, set in 2021 at the mixed-gender Valencia Half Marathon in Spain.

Sunday’s victory adds to Ngetich’s standout 2026 season, which also includes a team half-marathon title in Copenhagen and the World Cross Country Championships in Florida in January.

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