Exclusive: World 10km Record Holder Agnes Jebet Targets Tokyo Double After Sensational Season

At just 24 years old, World 10km record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich has had a season most athletes could only dream of. 

This season alone, Jebet has dominated cross country, road races and lit up the track with world-class performances. She has emerged as a formidable force in global athletics despite missing out on the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Her stunning year began in February at the Sirikwa Classic, a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meet in Eldoret. Jebet led from gun to tape, clocking 32:42 in a commanding win that marked the beginning of a special campaign. It was during that event that she held off triple Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon to clinch the title.

Cross-country’s proven path to greatness

Cross-country races have long been seen as the perfect foundation for distance running greatness, and Beatrice Chebet is a prime example. 

Last year, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet competed in a series of cross-country races before successfully defending her World Cross Country title in Belgrade.

She went on to have a stellar season, where she broke the 10,000m world record in Eugene to qualify for her first Olympics. At the Paris Olympics, she made history as the first Kenyan woman to win two gold medals at a single Olympic Games. 

She secured victories in both the 5000m (14:28.56) and 10,000m (30:43.25) events, solidifying her status as one of the greatest.

The script is almost similar for Jebet.

Shattering Road Records

Months after a stunning performance at the Sirikwa Classic, she raced at the Adizero Road to Records race in Germany, where she stunned the world. 

Jebet shattered the world record, becoming the first woman to run a women ’s-only 10km under 30 minutes, clocking 29:27 to break the late Agnes Tirop’s 2021 record of 30:01.

Speaking to SportsBoom.com, the world record holder admitted that while she had anticipated a strong performance, breaking the record was never part of the plan so early in the season. 

“I did not expect to run under 29 minutes so early in the season. It taught me that everything is possible. As Faith Kipyegon once said, Do not limit yourself."

Shining at the inaugural Grand Slam Track

In May, Jebet continued her tear at the Miami Grand Slam Track Series, claiming gold in the 5000m with a time of 14:25, before finishing second in the 3000m in a personal best 8:28.75. With 18 points total, she was crowned the overall winner, taking home $100,000 (Ksh13 million).

Weeks later at the Philadelphia Grand Slam, she struck again, winning the 3000m in 8:43.61, outkicking Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye with a trademark strong finish.

Her growing dominance was further highlighted at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, 5 July, where she clocked 14:01.29 in the 5000m, finishing second behind Beatrice Chebet, who ran a world-leading 13:58.06. Jebet’s time was the third-fastest ever recorded, cementing her status among the all-time greats.

Doubling at the World Championships

She is now aiming to represent Kenya at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Jebet is targeting double glory in the 5000m and 10,000m.

“I wanted to challenge myself. I have never raced two events at a major championship, but seeing Beatrice Chebet do it at the Olympics motivated me. After the World Championships, we’ll see what’s next. Right now, I’m focused on getting that medal,” she told SportsBoom.com. 

She further admitted that the road to doubling will not be easy, but she has altered her training to suit the demands, reducing mileage and increasing speed work.

“My training has changed a lot. I have focused more on speed. That is the difference,” she uttered.

She credits the influence of Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon, calling them “exemplary athletes” who have inspired her as she transitions from roads and cross country to the elite track stage. 

For instance, in February, when she raced against Kipyegon at the Sirikwa Classic, she termed it a ‘dream come true’.

When asked about the depth of Kenya’s talent and her chances of qualifying for Tokyo, she remains humble but hopeful.

“I know we have a strong team, but it’s about hard work, strong belief, and prayer. God knows,” she disclosed.

More road races in the cards

Despite her growing fame on the track, Jebet is not ruling out more road races in the future.

“This season, I tried to challenge myself by chasing a world record on the road while also running track. I’m still doing road races, but not a full marathon yet,” she laughed.

For now, the focus is clear is to make the Kenyan team and chase medals at the World Championships.

If her 2025 season so far is anything to go by, Agnes Jebet Ngetich is just getting started.