Jebet outshines her idol Faith Kipyegon in Monaco thriller
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 10.07.26. | 22:16
The victory adds another remarkable chapter to what has been a phenomenal 2026 campaign for Ng’etich
Agnes Ng’etich fulfilled a childhood dream in spectacular fashion after defeating her idol, triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, to win the women’s 3,000m at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, 10 July.
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In February last year, Ng’etich had spoken of the admiration she held for Kipyegon, revealing that watching the Kenyan legend compete had inspired her journey into athletics.
“I watched her in 2016 when I was in Grade 7. Faith inspires me a lot. Competing with her in one race is something special. She is the queen,” Ng’etich told Mozzart Sport.
Just over a year later, the rising distance-running star has achieved what once seemed like a dream, beating the woman she considers her greatest inspiration.
The pair lined up in a star-studded women’s 3,000m, with Australia’s Jessica Hull joining them at the front as the race settled into a blistering pace.
Hull, Ng’etich and Kipyegon shared the lead through the opening stages before Ng’etich surged to the front approaching the 1,800m mark, with Kipyegon tucked in behind.
As the pace intensified, Kipyegon slipped to third while Ng’etich continued to dictate the race.
The final lap produced a thrilling finish as the Monaco crowd rose to its feet, anticipating an assault on the world record.
Although the global mark remained intact, it was Ng’etich who stole the headlines, storming across the finish line in a sensational 8:07.95, smashing the meet record and recording the third-fastest women’s 3,000m in history.
Kipyegon, who had been chasing another historic performance, faded in the closing stages and finished fourth in 8:24.21, registering a season’s best but narrowly missing out on the podium.
The victory adds another remarkable chapter to what has been a phenomenal 2026 campaign for Ng’etich.
She opened the year by dominating the senior women’s race at the World Cross Country Championships, claiming the 10km title in 31:28 and winning by an astonishing 42 seconds.
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She followed that triumph with victory at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour Gold meeting in Eldoret, clocking 32:28.
Her road-running exploits have been equally impressive.
In April, she clocked 28:58 at the Urban Trail de Lille, the third-fastest women’s 10km time in history, before setting another course record at the prestigious NY Mini 10-K in June, winning in 30:07.