High flying runner Agnes Ngetich is one of the few Kenyans who have been confirmed for the Grand Slam Track event so far.
Ngetich, who broke into the limelight during the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, was the second athlete from the East African country to be invited to the event on November 1, 2024.
Besides her, Paris Olympic Games medalist Ronald Kwemoi and the reigning 800m world champion Mary Moraa, will also feature in the inaugural edition.
Kwemoi and Ngetich are expected to compete in the long distance category while Moraa will square it out with other world-betters in the short distance category.
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In an exclusive interview with SportPesa Blog, Ngetich stated that she is thrilled to get the opportunity to run in one of the biggest stages in the athletics industry.
“I am incredibly proud to be, as of now, one of the three Kenyan athletes invited to the inaugural Grand Slam Track series. It’s an honor to represent my country on this stage and to compete alongside some of the world’s best athletes,” she noted.
The Iten-based runner further expounded on why the Grand Track Slam series is not just an ordinary championship to her.
According to Ngetich, the event offers her a platform to play a unique role in enhancing the level of the sport.
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“This is more than just a competition. It’s a chance to push my limits, embrace the challenge, and be part of something truly historic that will help us continue to develop our sport.
I’m ready to give it everything I have got and make Kenya proud!” ended the Kapkenda Girls High School product.
Ngetich has had an excellent 2024 season which saw her break the 10km road race world record and win the Valencia Half Marathon.
She ran a sensational race at the Valencia Ibercaja 10K road race that was staged in Spain on January 14, and went on to cross the finishing line in an impressive time of 28:46 – becoming the first woman in history to produce a sub-29 minute performance.
At the recently held Valencia Half Marathon, Ngetich crossed the finishing line in a time of 1:03:04, which was less than 12 seconds shy of the current world record of 1:02:52 that was set by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey in 2021.
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What is Grand Slam Track Series?
Grand Slam track is a global athletics event that was founded by former American sprinter Michael Johnson.
The series features head-to-head battles between some of the best runners in the world who will compete in different categories.
A total of 96 runners (48 challengers and 48 racers) are set to compete in each of the four slams that will be hosted by different cities between April and September 2025.
The event has one of the highest prize money in the industry, with slam winners in each category expected to pocket $100,000 (approximately Ksh 12,950,000) as per the current exchange rate.
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