This weekend, on March 15th, Agnes Ngetich—the reigning World Cross Country champion—will showcase how the cross country season lays the foundation for a strong road racing campaign.
Last weekend, Jacob Kiplimo, the men’s World Cross Country champion, set a new world record of 57:20 in the half marathon at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon—a promising omen for Ngetich.
Like Ngetich—whose personal best of 1:03:04 ranks as the second-fastest time ever—Kiplimo also held the second-fastest mark in the men’s event before shattering the world record in Lisbon.
However, the 10K world record holder says her focus for the upcoming New York Half Marathon is not on the world record—at least not yet.
Why Ngetich chose the NYC Half Marathon
“Race selection is never just about one goal,” says her coach, Julien Di Maria, explaining her decision to compete in New York.
“Agnes has the half marathon world record in her sights. We know that, she knows that, and Valencia has proven twice that she has the speed. But an athlete’s season is built strategically.
“New York serves a different purpose. It’s a competitive race. A chance to race for the win, test herself against world-class competition, and continue building race fitness after World Cross Country,” he said.
For Ngetich, her coach emphasises, the NYC Half is about competition—not chasing fast times on a flat course.
“Agnes races to compete. When she’s ready to chase the record again, you’ll know,” her coach adds.
Defending champions Abel Kipchumba and Sharon Lokedi will both return in the men’s and women’s races, respectively.
The women’s field, featuring 12 athletes with personal bests under 1:08:00, is one of the deepest ever assembled for a half marathon anywhere in the world.
“New York has been so special to my career, and returning as the defending champion means a lot to me,” said Lokedi. “Running through Times Square and seeing all the young runners is one of the highlights for me, and I can’t wait to draw inspiration from them again this year. “
In addition to Ngetich, Lokedi will face her longtime road rival, Hellen Obiri—the 2023 and 2025 TCS New York City Marathon champion.
Other notable contenders include Ethiopia’s Fantaye Belayneh, who recorded the second-fastest time of the year at 1:04:49, and Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen, whose 1:05:41 personal best complements her national records from 1500m to 10,000m.
Kipchumba to battle Ebenyo in the men’s race
Kipchumba, who won his second straight United Airlines NYC Half title in a record-setting 59:09—making him the 10th-fastest half marathoner in history—will aim for a three-peat.
“Winning in New York is never easy, and coming back to defend my title again is a challenge I’m excited for,” said Kipchumba. “The energy on the streets pushes you from the first mile to the last, and I’m motivated to chase history against a world-class field. “
One of his primary challengers is fellow Kenyan Daniel Ebenyo, the newly crowned World Cross Country bronze medalist.
Kipchumba has a faster personal best (58:07) compared to Ebenyo’s 59:04, but Ebenyo owns more prestigious titles as the World Half Marathon silver medalist and the 2023 World silver medalist in the 10,000m.
With ten sub-60-minute runners in the men’s field—including South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt, Kenya’s Patric Kiprop, USA’s Alex Maier, Norway’s Sondre Moen, and notable debutant Grant Fisher—this promises to be an exciting race.
As race day approaches, all eyes will be on the 25-year-old Ngetich and an elite field of distance runners eager to leave their mark on New York. With world champions, record holders, and rising stars set to clash, the 2026 NYC Half Marathon promises thrilling competition and memorable performances. Whether chasing records or racing for pride, these athletes will inspire fans and set the tone for the season ahead.