Agnes Ngetich became the first athlete to break 30 minutes in a women-only 10km, smashing through that barrier with 29:27 at the Adizero Road To Records event in Herzogenaurach on Saturday (26).

The 24-year-old Kenyan, who already held the world record for 10km in a mixed race (28:46), was in dominant form, winning by more than a minute. After just five minutes, she had already stretched out the field and started to open up a comfortable lead.

Following her swift opening pace for the first two kilometres, Ngetich settled into a 2:57/km rhythm for the next three kilometres, reaching half way in 14:37 and putting her well on course to break the world record of 30:01 held by the late Agnes Jebet Tirop.

Ngetich’s pace dropped slightly in the second half, but she still managed to cover each remaining kilometre inside 3:00. Now well ahead of her nearest opponents, Ngetich charged through the finish line in 29:27, having covered the second half in 14:50.

“I’m so excited, I didn’t expect this,” she said. “Last year I missed it by two seconds, so I wanted to come here today and try for it again. I’m so proud of myself. After missing out on the Olympics last year, I want to make up for it this year at the World Championships.”