Agnes Ngetich delivered a commanding performance to ensure Kenya extended its dominance in the senior women’s race, securing a 10th consecutive title at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 on Saturday (10).
The world 10km record-holder was in a class of her own, storming to victory by 42 seconds in a time of 31:28 over the 10km course. The margin ranks as the second-largest winning gap in the history of the World Cross Country Championships, bettered only by Grete Waitz’s 44-second triumph in 1980.
Ngetich claimed her first global cross-country title, finishing well clear of Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek, who took silver in 32:10, and Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew, who secured bronze in 32:13.
Cheptoyek’s silver marked a historic milestone for Uganda, making her the country’s first-ever individual senior women’s medallist at the World Cross Country Championships. The Ugandan, who placed seventh in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Tokyo, edged Getachew by three seconds after a closely fought battle in the closing stages.
Despite missing out on the individual title, Getachew anchored Ethiopia to the team gold, the nation’s 13th senior women’s team title and their first since 2019. Ethiopia’s scoring team was completed by Asayech Ayichew, Aleshign Baweke, and Alem Tsadik, finishing fourth, fifth and seventh respectively. Kenya settled for team silver, while Uganda claimed bronze.
With Beatrice Chebet, the winner of the last two editions, sidelined for the 2026 season as she starts a family, Ngetich took on the responsibility of defending Kenya’s crown — and did so emphatically.
From the gun, Ngetich stayed at the front, initially matched by Getachew, Ayichew and Cheptoyek as the leading quartet covered the opening 2km loop in 6:03. She soon shifted gears, breaking away on the second loop and opening a 17-second lead by its end.
Her advantage steadily grew — 25 seconds at halfway, 31 seconds after the third loop, and 40 seconds heading into the final 2km. Behind her, Ayichew dropped off the medal chase and was later joined by a pack that included Tsadik, Baweke, Uganda’s Rispa Cherop, and Kenya’s Maurine Chebor.
Untroubled at the front, Ngetich powered home to gold, adding to the bronze medal she won in Bathurst in 2023 and improving on her fourth-place finish in Belgrade the following year.
Her 42-second victory margin underlined the scale of her dominance.
“I am so happy with this title,” said Ngetich. “I now have an individual title and I am proud to become the 10th woman to win world cross country gold for Kenya. Beatrice (Chebet) told me to bring the (gold) medal back home. This title is special.”
The duel for silver and bronze went down to the wire. Cheptoyek gained a slight edge over Getachew on the challenging ‘Alligator Alley’ log section during the final lap, which proved decisive as she held on for second place.
Ayichew finished fourth in 32:44, followed by Baweke and Cherop.
For the host nation, Ednah Kurgat, the 2017 NCAA cross-country champion, led the American team with a 10th-place finish in 33:28.
