World 10km record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich has sparked intrigue with a cryptic message ahead of her highly anticipated season opener at the Sirikwa Classic Cross-country Championships on February 22. The message, “Everything is hard before it gets easy,” comes after her absence from the Athletics Kenya cross-country championships, where she was expected to defend her title.
Fans had been eager to see her in action at the national championships held at the Eldoret Sports Club, but she opted out of the competition. Instead, she chose to kick off her season later in the month at the Sirikwa Classic, an event where she previously finished second behind Emmaculate Anyango, who has since been banned from competition.
In her absence, Brillian Chepkorir of Kenya Prisons, making a comeback from maternity leave, seized the opportunity to claim the national cross-country title. Chepkorir outpaced strong competitors, including Maureen Chepkoech of North Rift, who had dominated the Machakos and Kapsokwony cross-country legs but settled for second place in Eldoret. Stacy Ndiwa of the National Police Service completed the podium finish.
Following the conclusion of the race, Ngetich’s Instagram post hinted at the challenges she might be facing as she prepares for the new season. Despite missing the national event, she remains focused on making a strong start at the Sirikwa Classic and building momentum for the year ahead.
Last season, she enjoyed remarkable success, beginning with a dominant victory at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja, where she shattered the world record with a stunning time of 28:46. She then went on to win the national cross-country championships, earning a spot on the Kenyan team for the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. There, she finished fourth on the global stage before shifting her primary focus to road races.
Her transition to road racing proved fruitful, as she made a triumphant half-marathon debut in Valencia, securing victory in convincing fashion. She concluded her season on a high note, winning the 5km race at the Kumamoto Kosa 10-mile Road Race in Japan.
Now, with the 2025 season underway, she has set her sights on new goals, including a strong road racing campaign leading up to the World Championships in Tokyo. However, before that, she is expected to participate in a few road races as part of her buildup.
Her decision to start her season slightly later suggests a strategic approach, possibly aimed at ensuring peak form for major competitions ahead. With her track record of excellence and resilience, she remains one of the top contenders to watch as the season unfolds. Fans will be eager to see how she performs at the Sirikwa Classic and whether she can continue her impressive dominance on the road and cross-country circuit.
