Ngetich Makes It 10 Individual Titles In A Row For Kenyan Women, Winning By 42 Seconds; Ethiopia Puts Four In Top Eight In Team Win; U.S. Women Fourth For Second Consecutive Championships

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Logan Hannigan-Downs/John Nepolitan photos

TALLAHASSEE – In the absence of two-time defending champion Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich stepped up to carry Kenya’s cross country dominance for another year at the world championships.

The 24-year-old secured Kenya’s 10th consecutive individual women’s title on a warm Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park, clocking 31 minutes, 28 seconds over the challenging 10-kilometer course.

"To keep the title with Kenya, I had to fight for it," Negetich said. "It's been nine times, so I didn't want to be the one to lose."

Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek finished second in 32:10 and Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew finished third in 32:13 to complete the individual podium.

Ngetich’s victory margin of 42 seconds was the second-largest margin in meet history, trailing only Grete Waitz’s victory of 44 seconds from the 1980 championships.

Ngetich led an early pack of four through the first of five two-kilometer loops in 6:03 and then built her lead more and more as the laps went by. By seven kilometers, her lead grew by as much as 45 seconds over both Cheptoyek and Getachew.

"Last time there were many Kenyans strong, I mean the likes of Beatrice Chebet," Negetich said. "Today I didn't have anyone to go with so I just (went) and pushed it."

Chebet, who's expecting her first-born child in June, was in attendance to watch her fellow countrywomen compete.

Ethiopia reclaimed its spot on top of the podium stand for the first time since 2019, scoring 19 points with all four scorers finishing in the top eight. Getachew, Asayech Ayichew and Aleshign Baweke went 3-4-5 and Alem Tsadik took seventh to help Ethiopia capture its 11th overall team title.

Kenya, winners of the last two team titles, finished second behind Ngetich’s win with 36 points.

In the last six world championships, Kenya and Ethiopia have split each of the six team titles.

Uganda, finishing with three individuals in the top 10, finished third for the fourth consecutive championships with 37 points.

The United States finished fourth for the second consecutive championships, scoring 83 points behind Ednah Kurgat's 10th-place run in 33:28.

Karissa Schwezier finished 17th in 33:58, Katie Izzo finished 24th in 34:25 and Grace Hartman finished 32nd in 34:47 to cap the United States’ scoring.

Emily Venters finished 33rd in 34:48 and U.S. champion Weini Kelati Frezghi, who was the top American through 6k, finished 40th in 35:25.

Former Florida State Seminole, Lauren Ryan, led Australia to fifth with 103 points. Ryan finished 13th in 33:47.