Ng’etich targets another dominant run at Sunday's Valencia Half Marathon

Defending champion Agnes Ng’etich will be the runner to beat at Sunday's Valencia Half Marathon.

Ng’etich stormed to her maiden title in Valencia last year, clocking 1:03:04, a Kenyan national record that also marked her debut over the distance.

She outpaced Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay (1:03:21) and compatriot Lilian Kasait (1:03:32), etching her name among the world’s elite road runners.

Her winning time elevated her to second on the all-time list, behind Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who holds the world record of 1:02:52, set on the same course back in 2021.

Valencia has become a golden city for Ng’etich. Just last year, she obliterated the women’s 10km world record, storming to victory in 28:46 and smashing the previous 29:14 mark set by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in 2022.

In that historic race, Ng’etich led a Kenyan sweep alongside Immaculate Anyango (28:57) and Kasait (29:32).

Her resume over 10km is glittering with victories in Lille 2023 (29:26) and back-to-back Adidas Adizero Road to Records titles in 2024 (30:03) and 2025 (29:27).

However, the 24-year-old heads into Sunday’s contest with a point to prove after a disappointing outing at the Tokyo World Championships last month.

In Tokyo, Ng’etich missed the podium in the 10,000m, finishing fourth in 30:42.66.

World record holder Beatrice Chebet claimed gold (30:37.61), followed by Italy’s Nada Battocletti (30:38.23) and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (30:39.65).

Ng'etich endured another tough run in the 5,000m, finishing 15th in 15:13.78.

Ng’etich will have solid company in Valencia, with a strong Kenyan contingent that includes Gladys Chepkurui, the 2023 Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon champion, Buenos Aires Half Marathon winner Veronica Loleo, Gladys Kwamboka, the African 10,000m champion and Jesca Chelangat.

But standing firmly in her path is Tesfay, the Berlin Half Marathon champion, who will be eager to avenge last year’s defeat.