Ngetich headed into the race boasting the second-fastest time in history over 21 kilometres, thanks to her commanding 1:03:04 victory at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon.
After finishing 13th in New York in 1:10:25, Ngetich bounced back spectacularly to win the World Half Marathon title in Copenhagen in a women-only world record of 1:05:15.
In Tokyo, Ngetich powered through the tape in the women’s race to win in 1:04:23. Her mark shattered the previous course record of 1:07:27, three minutes faster than that set by compatriot Loice Chemnung when she triumphed in 2024.
Ngetich finished well clear of compatriot Tabitha Njeri Kamau, who clocked 1:08:28 to secure second place, while Japan’s Kazuna Kanetomo rounded off the podium in 1:10:17.
Despite laying down the gauntlet with her record-breaking display, Ngetich admitted she had not expected to produce such a fast time, citing the challenging nature of the course.
‘It was a hard course’
”I didn’t think I’d get such a time. It was a hard course, it was hilly and had lots of sharp corners,” said Ngetich after the race.
The Kenyan distance ace has now further cemented her status as one of the most formidable forces over 21km since making her half marathon debut in 2024.
Ngetich announced herself in emphatic fashion on her debut, storming to victory at the Valencia Half Marathon in Spain in 1:03:04, a national record and the second-fastest time in the world.
As of 2026, Ngetich holds the current world record in the women’s only half marathon, with a time of 1:05:15 set at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships.
She is the reigning World Cross Country Champion, having won the title at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships.
Ngetich previously won two gold medals with Kenya in the team events at the 2023 and 2024 World Cross Country Championships, with a bronze medal in the senior women’s race in 2023.
In January 2024, with a time of 28:46, she set the 10 km run world record in Valencia, breaking the previous record by 28 seconds.
En route to this time, Ngetich also broke the 5 km run world record, splitting 14:13 at 5 km which was 6 seconds faster than the previous world record.
Ngetich also holds the second fastest half marathon mark in history, at 1 hour 3 minutes and 4 seconds.
Munyao shaves one second off
Meanwhile, in the men’s race at the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon, Munyao powered to victory in 59:51, shaving one second off the previous course record of 59:52 set by compatriot Amos Kurgat in 2024.
The 30-year-old spearheaded a Kenyan clean sweep of the top four positions on Sunday, with Kiprono Sitonik finishing second in 59:56, while James Mutuku completed the podium after clocking 1:00:08.
Amos Kiprotich narrowly missed out on a place on the podium, finishing fourth in 1:00:11 to cap a dominant Kenyan display in the Japanese capital.
Munyao was delighted with his performance: ”I feel good for the win today,” he said.
Munyao’s personal best of 57:59 in the half marathon set at the 2020 Valencia Half Marathon is the fourth fastest time ever. He also won the 2023 Prague International Marathon at the course record of 2:05:09.
In the 2024 London Marathon, Munyao pulled away from legendary Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele in the final three kilometers to win the race in 2:04:01.
