World 10km record holder Agnes Ng'etich believes her impressive run in this year’s Grand Slam Track Series has fuelled her confidence and sharpened her speed ahead of a historic double at the Tokyo World Championships.
The 24-year-old distance ace is set to contest both the 5,000m and 10,000m in Tokyo this September, banking on her growing track pedigree to deliver on the global stage.
In the 5,000m, she will be in the company of defending World Champion Faith Kipyegon, world record holder Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Akidor. In the 25-lap race, Ng'etich will join forces with Chebet once again and Janeth Chepng'etich.
Ng'etich believes that featuring in more track races this year, particularly the Grand Slam, has boosted her confidence and sharpened her speed. "The Grand Slam has given me a lot of confidence on the track. I did not have good speed on the track," Ng'etich said.
The Kenyan star opened her 2025 campaign at the Kingston leg of the Grand Slam Series in Jamaica, clocking 14:59.80 for second in the 5,000m before grabbing another runner-up finish in the 3,000m with 8:28.75. She turned heads at the Miami Slam, dominating the 5,000m in 14:25.80 and placing third in the 3,000m in 8:23.14.
Ng'etich later dazzled in Philadelphia with a commanding 8:43.61 victory over 3,000m. It was her dominant display at the Grand Slam that secured her place in Team Kenya's 5,000m squad from the Prefontaine Classic trials on July 5, where she clocked 14:01.29 to place behind Chebet, who shattered the World record with a swift 13:58.06.
She cemented her spot in the 10,000m team with a second-place finish at the Ulinzi Complex trials last Tuesday, clocking 30:27.38, sandwiched between winner Janeth Chepng'etich (30:27.02) and third-placed Chebet (30:27.52).
Ng'etich further credited Chebet's and Kipyegon's influence in her growing confidence on the track. "Faith and Beatrice motivated me to go into the track and perform well. I decided to focus on the track races this year and see if I can get the speed as I prepare for Tokyo."
As she fine-tunes her preparations, Ng'etich is keen to polish one crucial element, her final kick. "I want to focus on my speed before the World Championships because at that stage, you have to be cautious till the final 300 to 200m. I'm going to improve on my finishing kick."
Despite it being her first time doubling at the World Championships, Ngetich is unfazed. "Doubling at the World Championships will not affect my training regimen. I am a long-distance runner, so it is good for me."
"Running the 10,000m and going into the 5,000m is like going for a long run," she added. Before Tokyo, she hopes to squeeze in one more test. "For now, I am focusing on my training for Tokyo. I gave a Diamond League race, although I am yet to confirm which one."
