Adizero 10K: Agnes Ngetich narrowly misses women's only record in win

Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Ngetich on Saturday narrowly missed a chance to break the womens-only 10km record in a frenetic finish at the Adizero: Road to Records race in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

The 23-year-old, in a race to break the late Agnes Tirop’s record of 30:01 set in September 2021, missed the target by two seconds, as her fine opening splits fizzled out in the closing kilometers to see her cut the tape in a winning time of 30:03.

Margaret Chelimo, a third place finisher at this year’s World Cross-Country Championships in Belgrade, came second in a time of 30:39, with another Kenyan - Jesca Chelangat - closing out the top three positions clocking 30:46.

“My race was good though I struggled a lot after pushing out alone and eventually missing out by two seconds,” Ngetich, who obliterated the women's world 10km record by running 28:46 at 10K Valencia Ibercaja in January said. “I am happy with the results but I wanted the world record.”

Her disappointment moments after crossing the finish line was visible, especially given the fact that her blistering start had culminated to her being outside the world-record time in the final two kilometers.

In the race that served as a remembrance for the aforementioned Tirop, who was murdered in October 2021, elite Adidas-sponsored athletes for the first time were treated to a 1.3km lap on tarmac and asphalt.

Distance running stars set for Adizero Road to Records showdowns

Signifying her intent, Ngetich broke out with Chelimo in tow as the duo hit opening splits of 2:54 and 2:49.

Four kilometers was all it took Ngetich to shake off her 31-year old countrymate, as she laid down the hammer with 14:49 on the clock.

Then, Ngetich was on a projected finish of 29:38.

At the 7km mark, Ngetich’s time was 20:54 after a 3:04 split that kept her just 10 seconds inside the record time.

By then, Ngetich, all alone and striding hard, looked to be posting slower splits, and so was the case in the eighth kilometer after running 3:06 to put her only two seconds inside the record.

Every look at the watch looked to be a nervy moment for Ngetich as soon as she hit the 9km mark now five seconds off after a slow 3:06 split.

The last kicks to save the moment for Ngetich looked close as she hit the last bend, only that it was not to be, as the clock above her read 30:03 when she cut the tape before collapsing on the surface.

In the men's race, Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli improved on his third place finish last year as he broke out in the last two kilometers to cut the tape in a winning time of 27:04.

Fellow Kenyan Sabastian Sawe, who closed in quick in the last meters, came second in 27:06, with Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera finishing third clocking 27:07.