From Grass to Grace: The Inspiring Story of World 10km Record Holder Agnes Jebet Ng'etich

At just 23, Agnes Jebet Ng’etich has already made history as the first woman to complete a 10km race in under 29 minutes. But the story behind this record-breaking success is one of unrelenting perseverance in the face of hardship.

Jebet’s roots

Born on January 23, 2001, in Kinamget Tabare village, Elgeyo Marakwet County, she grew up in a large family with seven sisters and one brother. From a young age, she took part in various school activities and races, discovering her running talent almost by accident.

Motivation to run

However, it was not until 2016, after the tragic loss of her father, that she seriously considered pursuing it.

“When I was young, in class six, I realized I could run, but I didn’t make much of it,” she shared during an interview with SportsBoom.com.

“After my father passed away in 2016, we faced many challenges. My mother, who used to run in her youth, encouraged me not to waste my talent and to give it a real chance.”

Her father, a secondary school chemistry and mathematics teacher, had been the primary breadwinner, paying for school fees and providing for the family. His death from cancer left the family in a precarious situation, creating a deep emotional and financial void.

Image Credits: Athletics Kenya

Her mother struggled with the loss, turning to alcohol as a means to cope, and Jebet, still so young herself, found herself thrust into the role of caretaker.

Faced with a stark new reality, she took on the weight of responsibility for her siblings. To make ends meet, she resorted to brewing and selling chang’aa (illicit local brew) as well as making and selling charcoal. This was a means of survival to ensure her family had enough to eat and her siblings could go to school.

“My younger siblings looked up to me like a father figure. I did not want to let them down. I used to sell alcohol and charcoal so they could have something to eat and go to school. Sometimes, I was late or missed school myself, but I kept going,” she narrated.

Despite her daily struggles, she continued to find moments to run, dreaming that one day her talent might change her life. While competing in school races, she often faced physical challenges, sometimes fainting from hunger and, in many cases, running without shoes.

Major breakthrough

When she finished primary school, her potential finally caught the attention of a kind observer, Ruth Chepchumba Bundotich. Ruth offered her a place at Kamwosor Junior Athletics Camp, where she could train while continuing her secondary school education.

Yet, even at the camp, life was tough; she had to juggle school, training, and family responsibilities.

“I trained barefoot; life was tough, but that is what keeps me fighting,” she said.

In 2017, she received her first breakthrough when she was enrolled at Ikaika Sports Management, which opened doors to significant sponsorships. Adidas, one of her sponsors, helped her mother build a permanent home and contributed to her siblings’ school fees.

“Meeting Adidas was life-changing; they helped with my school fees and those of some of my siblings,” she revealed.

National team debut

With her newfound support, she soon earned a spot on Team Kenya for the 2021 Cross-Country Championship in Algeria, marking her debut in professional athletics.

From there, she continued competing in local cross-country events, winning races in Sotik, Bomet, and Kapsokwony, among others, shaping her career and boosting her confidence.

In 2023, she started her season with a bang by winning a bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia. Later that year, she broke the women-only 10km record at the Transylvania 10km in Brasov, Romania, with an impressive time of 29:24.

Image Credits: Athletics Kenya

However, her record was not officially recognized because the course was found to be slightly short. Far from being discouraged, this only fueled her desire to prove herself.

In January, she entered the 10k Valencia Ibercaja race with a clear goal: to make a statement. She achieved this spectacularly, becoming the first woman to run 10km in under 29 minutes, setting a new world record with a time of 28:46, 28 seconds faster than the previous record.

Missing 2024 Paris Olympics

Despite her stellar start, health issues forced her to sit out of the Olympic trials. However, her setback did not keep her sidelined for long.

After recovering, she made an impressive debut at the Valencia Half Marathon on October 27, clocking 1:03:03 and nearly breaking Letensebet Gidey’s world half marathon record of 1:02:52. She finished just 12 seconds short, a testament to her incredible progress.