Ngetich cements her place in the top league after stellar show in USA

Kenya's Agnes Jebet Ng'etich at the Grand Slam Track series in USA. [AFP] After chalking up her second Grand Slam Track title in Philadelphia, USA, last weekend, 10km world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich confirms that she is in top shape this season. Earlier in May, the long distance track sensation was crowned champion at the Miami Grand Slam Track just days after shattering the women-only 10km world record in Herzogenaurach, Germany on April 26. In Philadelphia, on Saturday night, the 24-year-old star produced another resounding performance and attained the maximum 12 points in the single 3000m event in the women's long distances group. Ngetich overpowered Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye in a blazing kick in the homestretch at the Philadelphia meet. From the back-to-back titles (in Miami and Philadelphia), Ngetich is joining the elite club of the country's track assassins that include 1500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon and 10,000m fastest women Beatrice Chebet among others. Taye, who had proved too strong for Ngetich in the first leg of the series in Kingston, Jamaica earlier in April, came in second in the closely contested women's 3000m race. The second-placed Ethiopian and her compatriot Medina Eisa, alongside Ngetich were touted as the top contenders for the Philadelphia slam but the latter proved too strong. Eisa however finished sixth. Ngetich won the race in 8:43.61 while Taye followed closely in 8:43.70 while American Josette Andrews came third in a time of 8:44.70. She said her neck-and-neck with Taye was the strongest challenge but she was elated for withstanding the pressure from the Ethiopian star. "It was fast and everyone was strong. The field was even stronger in the last three laps," Ngetich said. A resilient Ngetich continued: "On racing side by side with Taye, I was feeling like just moving. It was just so tough and I didn't want to give up. I wanted to fight until the end." She was declared the slam champion after emerging the fastest athlete in the group on the 3000m race alone. The podium finishers chalked up 12, 8 and 6 points respectively in the single race. Ngetich became the first athlete to break 30 minutes in a women-only 10km, smashing through that barrier with 29:27 at the Adizero Road To Records event in Herzogenaurach. [Stephen Rutto]

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Ngetich cements her place in the top league after stellar show in USA

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