Agnes Ngetich sets new women-only half-marathon world record

Agnes Ngetich claimed a new women-only world half-marathon record in Copenhagen, finishing in 1:05:15. This surpasses Peres Jepchirchir's 1:05:16 set in 2020. Ngetich led from the start, maintaining a strong pace throughout the race.

The Kenyan runner dominated the competition, finishing well ahead of Veronica Loleo and Florence Niyonkuru. Emma Grace Hurley of the U.S. also achieved a personal best. Britain's Samantha Harrison finished 27th, with Alex Bell and Julia Paternain following. Read more racing coverage.

This achievement adds to Ngetich's impressive year, which includes a world cross country title and a 10km world record. Her new half-marathon time ranks her tenth on the 2026 world list. Related: Hodgkinson wins Athlos 800m in new Nike suit.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.

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What should runners know about Agnes Ngetich sets new women-only half-marathon world record?

Ngetich breaks record in Copenhagen, surpassing previous mark by one second. Agnes Ngetich claimed a new women-only world half-marathon record in Copenhagen, finishing in 1:05:15. This surpasses Peres Jepchirchir's 1:05:16 set in 2020. Ngetich led from the start, maintaining a strong pace throughout the race.

When did Runner World publish this racing brief?

Runner World published this brief on September 20, 2026. The underlying Athletics Weekly report was dated September 20, 2026.

Where can readers find the complete original report?

This summary is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.

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